Boppa Dances. Boppa Sings. to the English Language

As a lover of teaching, cooking, sports, reading literature written by Black authors, and creative writing, Mattyna L. Stephens grew up in Prince George's County, Maryland. Teaching kindergarten helped cultivate her love for writing children's books. She earned a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. Mattyna is a Regional Health Care Planner with an emphasis on treatment and care for people living with HIV/AIDS. When considering the subgroups that are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS, Dr. Stephens focuses explicitly on Black women across the lifespan. Additionally, she teaches graduate-level students in the College of Education at Texas A&M University. When she is not engaged in the activities mentioned above, she volunteers as an ombudsman advocating for the quality of treatment and care for residents in long-term care facilities.

Travis A. Thompson is an artist and educator from Charlotte, North Carolina. With ten years experience working with children within public schools, he has seen first hand the importance of how outside influences can shape a child's view of themselves. It is his goal to make sure that the mark he leaves on this world is a positive one. Travis hopes to continue to create literary works and illustrations that allow all children to see themselves represented in a positive light. He is currently working on his next two children's books, one about the Tooth Fairy and the other a follow up to his first book "The Color Wheel Kids".