She Sang Promise: The Story of Betty Mae Jumper, Seminole Tribal Leader

Summary of Book

She Sang Promise is the compelling and inspiring story of Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, one of modern America’s first female elected tribal leader. With its lyrical, poetic text, and rich, vibrant illustration, this is a book to charm and amaze young readers.Betty Mae Tiger Jumper was born in 1923, the daughter of a Seminole woman and a white man. She grew up in the Everglades under dark clouds of distrust among her tribe who could not accept her at first. As a child of a mixed marriage, she walked the line as a constant outsider. Growing up poor and isolated, she only discovered the joys of reading and writing at age 14. An iron will and sheer determination lead her to success, and she returned to her people as a qualified nurse. When her husband was too sick to go to his alligator wrestling tourist job, gutsy Betty Mae climbed right into the alligator pit! Storyteller, journalist, and community activist, Betty Mae Jumper was a voice for her people―ultimately becoming the first female elected Seminole tribal leader.Lisa Desimini’s stunning folk-style artwork brings this gripping tale and the lush Everglades setting to life. The book has been vetted by the Seminole Indian Museum.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core

Author Biography

J.G. Annino is a journalist and writer, whose previous books include Florida’s Famous Animals and Scenic Driving Florida. She lives in Tallahassee, FL.Lisa Desimini studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York. She has written and illustrated numerous children’s books. She lives in New York, NY.

Illustrator Biography

Lisa Desimini is the author and/or illustrator of over 35 books for children. Her book My House was one of the New York Time's Best Illustrated Books of the Year. Some of her most successful title are: Dot the Fire Dog, Anansi Does the Impossible, How the Stars Fell into the Sky, She Sang Promise, and The Great Big Green.

Lisa also illustrated the covers for the Sookie Stackhouse Series, and Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Dreams, Pigs in Heaven and The Bean Trees.