ALICE FAYE DUNCAN
ALICE FAYE DUNCAN writes books for young learners and speaks to students about the Civil Rights Movement. Since 1995, Alice Faye Duncan has published thirteen children’s books to critical acclaim with writing that is celebrated for its vivid imagery and musical lyricism. She writes to help children remember important chapters from African American history, exploring pivotal moments and cultural touchstones that have not previously been explored in children’s picture books.
She has been featured in publications like School Library Journal and the New York Times, and has appeared on Memphis’s PBS station, WKNO, and Fox11 Los Angeles.
Duncan earned a Master’s in Library and Information Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she was awarded a fellowship through the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. She then worked for thirty years as a National Board-Certified Teacher and school librarian, and recently retired in Memphis, Tennessee.
Praise for the Works of Alice Faye Duncan
Coretta’s Journey: The Life and Times of Coretta Scott King chosen for Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year, 2024
Yellow Dog Blues, Evicted, and Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free chosen for Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year, 2023
“A historical journey, an exploration of blues music . . . in this unique artistic exploration.” —Booklist, starred review of Yellow Dog Blues
“Passionate and personal.” —Publishers Weekly on Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop
“The blues. . . run through Duncan's story and history lesson with a smooth rhythm all the author's own.” —School Library Journal on Yellow Dog Blues
“… a strong, useful, and beautiful text.” —Kirkus Reviews on A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks
“Alternating between poems and prose, Duncan’s text is informative as well as emotionally powerful.” —New York Times on Coretta’s Journey: The Life and Times of Coretta Scott King
BLUES BOY: THE B.B. KING STORY
Greenwillow Books — January 27, 2026
From his childhood in the Jim Crow South to his triumphant reign as the King of Blues, Blues Boy tells the aspirational story of American music icon B.B. King. For readers of Trombone Shorty, When Marian Sang, and Drum Dream Girl. Includes a timeline, author’s note, and suggestions for reading and listening.
At twelve years old, Riley B. King borrowed fifteen dollars from his boss to buy a used guitar. Before long, he was playing his music for jubilant crowds all over the world. Blues Boy chronicles B. B. King’s inspiring journey from his childhood in the Jim Crow South to global stardom. It is a compelling biography about the widely known and celebrated American music figure as well as a beautifully illustrated picture book with themes of family, community, history, kindness, empathy, and justice.
Acclaimed author Alice Faye Duncan makes B.B. King’s story both accessible and inspiring for young readers. The text is sometimes uplifting and sometimes heart-wrenching, but always carries emotional depth, much like the music it celebrates. Illustrator and visual artist Carl Joe Williams provides artwork that is rich and distinctive, bringing B.B. King’s story to life on every page. Blues Boy will find a place on the shelf with books like Trombone Shorty and Radiant Child.
Praise for Blues Boy
“Duncan’s expressive prose echoes the lyrics of a powerful blues song, ensuring its pages will be read (or sung) aloud on repeat.” —Kirkus Starred Review