About Me

  Adrea Gist Theodore (MD, MPH) is a mom, a pediatrician and a children’s book author from Durham, North Carolina. Growing up on Long Island, Adrea was the quintessential bookworm, almost always with a book in her hand. Her love of reading, writing and language has continued to grow throughout the years; and with her own child, Adrea began to revisit the favorite stories from her childhood.  She was inspired to begin writing, became a member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and participated in a local critique group, leading to the creation of her debut picture book, A History of Me. 

Adrea is currently seeking representation!

When not writing, Dr. Theodore works in a local child advocacy center (CAC) with children being evaluated for abuse or neglect. Every child she sees there also has a story to tell.

Dr. Theodore is a graduate of The Johns Hopkins University (B.A.), the University of Virginia School of Medicine (M.D.), and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health (M.P.H.). She completed her residency training in Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine at UNC-Chapel Hill.

  A History of Me tells the story of a young girl, a third-grader whose experience of being the only brown person in her class coincides with her learning about some of the hard history of America. The story describes how she feels when these lessons about slavery and civil rights are being taught in that setting and how other students react to her. It describes her understanding of how the history of slavery and segregation have impacted her family over generations, particularly with regard to educational opportunities. In the end, she learns that she does not need to be ashamed of her heritage (being the descendant of an enslaved person).  She passes on this knowledge to her daughter,  along with the message that she is a reflection of the courage, strength, intelligence and creativity that’s been passed down from generation to generation.

"An empowering picture book...an uplifting story that rightfully asserts the multidimensionality of Black identity."