Pasha Westbrook (she/her/hers)

Pasha Westbrook, a multiracial writer and a Chickasaw and Choctaw Freedmen descendant, is the author of "Braided Roots." Westbrook lives among the Arizona cacti with her husband and three beautiful boys. When she's not voraciously reading, you'll find her penning poetry, nourishing her plant babies, concocting herbal remedies and reveling in nature as often as possible.

Awards: Debut author. BRAIDED ROOTS released Nov 4, 2025

Communities: Arizona Author, African American, Indigenous or Native American, Mixed Race, Native Freedmen & Freedmen

Home Meets Heart: The Gifts of Family

Children's connections to different family members are a source of hugs, history, belonging, and confidence. Families, both biological and found, offer children the gifts they need to live happy, fulfilled lives.

Education Room 353 (Seats 92, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sat, Mar 14, 1:00 pm - 1:55 pm
Children
Signing area: Signing Area - Children (following presentation)  

Panelists: Steph Littlebird, Cynthia Harmony, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Pasha Westbrook
Moderator: Kristy Pavatea
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Helios Education Foundation, In Memory of Patricia Porter

Voices of Indigenous Representation & History

Indigenous authors and illustrators are taking the lead in telling stories that reflect family and tribal histories through an Indigenous lens. This increase in representations and authorship is a significant shift in the field that matters in the lives of readers.

Education Room 351 (Seats 46, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sat, Mar 14, 4:00 pm - 4:55 pm
Children
Signing area: Signing Area - Children (following presentation)  

Panelists: Steph Littlebird, Carole Lindstrom, S.D. Nelson, Pasha Westbrook
Moderator: LaCher Pacheco
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Southside Community School

So You Want to Write a Picture Book?

Authors of picture books share their experiences and identify the strategies involved in writing the text for a picture book. Although picture books have a small number of words, writing brief but effective text can be difficult.

Education Room 351 (Seats 46, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sun, Mar 15, 10:00 am - 10:55 am
Children
Signing area: Signing Area - Children (following presentation)  

Panelists: Monica Brown, Deborah Marcero, Pasha Westbrook
Moderator: HeeYoung Kim
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Southside Community School

Book:

Braided Roots: the Interweaving of History, Family, and a Father's Love

Children
Scholastic, Incorporated
January 2025
ISBN 9781339015385
40 pages
Buy now