A fascinating look at the development of early photography, the life of an African-American artist, and the world of the...
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As a young boy in Lenox, Massachusetts, James VanDerZee is introduced to a new device—the camera—that changes his life. Glowing acrylics shot with light show James as he saves up for his first camera and begins to experiment and grow as an artist, while straightforward prose focuses on notable and interesting aspects of his life. Ready for adventure, James moves to Harlem at age 18 and, after working a series of odd jobs, is able to establish himself as a studio and street photographer, depicting other African-Americans in Harlem, from politicians to musicians to sports heroes and from the middle class as well as the more commonly photographed rich and poor. When cameras become readily available to consumers, VanDerZee’s skills fall from favor, and it is not until years later, when an exhibition called “Harlem on My Mind” presents his collected work, that he receives the recognition he deserves. Children will be drawn in by VanDerZee’s struggles, inspirations, and achievements as well as the idea that photographs can be both works of art and enduring historical records—and that they can be taken by devices other than phones. Backmatter includes an afterword, a bibliography, and a selection of VanDerZee’s photographs.
A fascinating look at the development of early photography, the life of an African-American artist, and the world of the Harlem Renaissance. (Picture book/biography. 6-10)Pub Date: June 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-62014-260-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: April 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2017
Inspiration for nature-loving children.
If you’re a child who collects nature’s treasures, you’re in good company.
This cleverly conceived and appealingly executed title addresses young readers directly, connecting their noticing and collecting habits to those of others who continued to observe, collect, and organize in adulthood. Montgomery introduces a grandly diverse array of nine naturalists, researchers, and explorers from Maria Sibylla Merian, who studied butterflies in the 17th century, to Bonnie Lei, whose present-day research focuses on sea-life conservation. Three are people of color, and the majority are female. The young George Washington Carver collected seed pods; deep-sea explorer William Beebe collected birds’ eggs; and young Jane Goodall put worms under her pillow! Other profiles include Charles Darwin, tree-canopy explorer Margaret Lowman, herpetologist Diego Cisneros-Heredia, and fossil hunter Mary Anning. The vignettes from childhood are engaging, well paced, and smoothly told. Short introductions to the adult scientists follow, in a smaller font. In her author’s note, the writer introduces the concept of naturalist intelligence. Lechuga’s friendly illustrations feature the brown-skinned girl with Afro puffs and overflowing pockets shown on the cover as well as the scientists as children, then as adults, in appropriate times and places. The backmatter includes more about the grown-up scientists and the author’s own sensible “rules for collecting,” which involve respect for nature, the people she lives with, and herself (safety). The illustrator reminds readers that habits of observation are something she also shares with scientists.
Inspiration for nature-loving children. (field guides, selected bibliography) (Informational picture book. 7-10)Pub Date: Sept. 14, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-62354-122-4
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
An inspirational, fast-paced biography of a man who broke barriers for athletes of color.
Despite years of racism and discrimination, Roberto Clemente became a baseball legend.
Born in 1934, Clemente grew up in Puerto Rico, where he played baseball using a tree branch and a tin can. At 19, he left the island to play professional béisbol but spent most of his time on the bench. In 1955 he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates; fans “[loved] Roberto’s bold style,” but as a Black Puerto Rican man who spoke English with an accent, he encountered bigotry. Despite his acrobatic plays, his teammates mocked him, newspapers dubbed him a showoff, and many insultingly called him “Bob.” By 1960 he was an All-Star who led the Pirates to victory in his first World Series. Although he was passed over for MVP because of racist attitudes and suffered further injustices while training with the team in segregated Florida, he finished the season with a .351 batting average and in 1961 won his first Gold Glove. Sports journalist Alonso weaves Spanish words into the story and ratchets up the narrative’s energy with play-by-play descriptions of Clemente’s athleticism. Caldecott honoree Gutierrez’s vibrant mixed-media illustrations evoke urban murals or Afro-Caribbean fabrics, pulsing with swirls, designs, and actions saturated in color and fueled by emotion. Alonso’s author’s note offers more context and emphasizes that though Clemente wasn’t the first Afro-Latine player on an American or National League team, he nevertheless made important strides.
An inspirational, fast-paced biography of a man who broke barriers for athletes of color. (timeline, glossary, translation of a quotation, selected bibliography, illustrator’s note, archival photographs, photo credits) (Picture-book biography. 7-10)Pub Date: Aug. 27, 2024
ISBN: 9781635928112
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
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