Jerry Changed the Game!

Growing up in 1940s Queens, Jerry Lawson was always a tinkerer, moving from handcars to radio receivers by age thirteen and then televisions at sixteen. His parents actively supported his interests, even searching out schools where racism would not limit a Black boy’s chances at a good education. A cross-country move to northern California in 1968 as an adult and a job at a semiconductor manufacturer poised Lawson for success in the nascent video game industry. He led development on the Fairchild video entertainment system, a home console with removable cartridges that launched shortly before the Atari 2600, and then worked on games for Atari. This work helped bring video games from arcades into the home and changed the way people play forever. Tate contextualizes Lawson as a Black engineer moving through an overwhelmingly white industry, while ably conveying a sense of fun in both Lawson’s engineering projects and the rising star of video game entertainment. Potential setbacks are posed with a refrain of “Was it GAME OVER?”, framing Lawson’s accomplishments and failures around a recognizable hook for readers more familiar with mobile gaming or a Nintendo Switch than an Atari (let alone a Fairchild). Digitally colored and inked pencil art uses desaturated colors and often depicts Black children playing arcade and video games; digitally added stippling and subtle patterns add depth, though the combinations are not always harmonious. An author’s note gives further biographical information about Lawson’s life, as well as information about the other major players involved in creating the first video game cartridge. Includes a timeline of the arcade and video game industry and a bibliography. – The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books * 7/1/23 *“Harris’ vivid illustrations and graphics complement Tate’s engaging text. Enticing and inspiring fare.” – Kirkus Reviews“Readers will understand that Lawson was a dedicated, determined, and inventive man who paved the way for video games and Black entrepreneurs.” – Booklist

Don Tate is the award-winning creator of numerous picture book biographies, including Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Football-Playing Artist Ernie Barnes and William Still and His Freedom Stories: The Father of the Underground Railroad. He is a founding host of The Brown Bookshelf, a website that celebrates the myriad of African American voices writing for young readers. Tate’s accolades include an Ezra Jack Keats Book Award and Honor, a Carter G. Woodson Book Award and Honor, two Christopher Awards, and several others. He lives with his family in Austin, Texas.

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