A Childhood Rooted in Courage: New Children’s Book Illuminates the Early Life of Daisy Bates

By the Arkansas Delta Informer Staff

March 23, 2026 – Long before her name became synonymous with one of the most pivotal moments in American civil rights history, Daisy Gaston Bates was a child growing up in the small South Arkansas town of Huttig—learning lessons that would one day shape her extraordinary resolve.

That lesser-known chapter of her life takes center stage in Daisy Was Determined: The Girl Who Grew Up To Lead Little Rock Central High School Desegregation, a new children’s book by Arkansas author Angela Courtney, set for release this spring. Published by Arkansas Children’s Publishing, LLC, the book offers young readers an intimate look at the formative years of a woman who would later stand at the forefront of the Little Rock Central High School desegregation crisis.

Rather than beginning with history-book moments already etched into the public consciousness, Courtney intentionally turns the lens toward Bates’ childhood. At just eight years old, Daisy Gaston was already being shaped by her environment, her experiences, and the quiet strength that would later define her leadership.

Through historical nonfiction paired with vivid illustrations by Nashville-based artist Michael McBride, the story invites readers to see how character, courage, and conviction are often forged long before the world is watching.

The project is supported in part by a grant from the Arkansas Black History Commission, underscoring its mission to preserve and share Arkansas’s civil rights legacy with new generations. Courtney’s goal, she says, is to introduce “young and young at heart” audiences to Daisy Bates not only as a historical figure, but as a child whose journey can inspire empathy and understanding.

The book’s significance is further amplified by the voices connected to Bates’ legacy. Elizabeth Eckford, one of the Little Rock Nine, contributed the foreword, lending a deeply personal and historical resonance to the project.

Additionally, Janis F. Kearney—author, journalist, and owner of the Arkansas State Press newspaper once published by Bates—served as the book’s beta reader. Courtney described both women as “intentional and thoughtful” participants in the process, emphasizing the care taken to honor Bates’ story with authenticity and respect.

“It was very gracious of Ms. Eckford and Ms. Kearney to be a part of this book project,” she said.

For Courtney, telling Bates’ story from this early vantage point offers something essential: perspective. By focusing on a time before Daisy Bates became a national figure, the narrative highlights how lived experiences and personal resilience can shape history in transformative ways. It also reminds readers that monumental change often begins in ordinary places, with ordinary moments, and with children who grow into leaders.

The timing of the book announcement was revealed in February, on the statewide holiday honoring Daisy Bates, a deliberate choice that Courtney says reflects the importance of recognizing the full arc of Bates’ life. While her role in desegregation remains one of the most significant chapters in Arkansas and American history, Courtney notes that Bates’ childhood laid the foundation for who she would become.

Daisy Was Determined marks Courtney’s second children’s book centered on the early lives of influential Black leaders. Her debut title, Johnny Was His Name: The Boy Who Grew Up To Become John H. Johnson, was released in 2024 and explored the childhood of the future founder of Ebony and Jet magazines. Together, Courtney’s works form a growing body of storytelling that reframes history through youth, possibility, and purpose.

An Arkansas native, Courtney’s own educational journey spans the University of Arkansas at Monticello, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Webster University, and continuing education at Columbia University’s Teachers College. That background, paired with her commitment to culturally grounded storytelling, informs her approach to making history accessible and meaningful for children.

As Daisy Was Determined prepares to reach readers this spring, it does more than introduce a civil rights icon to a new generation. It invites children to see themselves in history—to understand that the seeds of determination, leadership, and change are often planted early, and that even the youngest voices can grow into forces that reshape the world.