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Jeanne Walker Harvey

Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas: An Inspiring Art Story About Creativity and Bold Expression for Children (Ages 4–8)

by Jeanne Walker Harvey (Author), Loveis Wise (Illustrator) Format: Hardcover

(143)

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Celebrate the life-changing power of art in this inspiring and stunningly illustrated picture book biography of American artist Alma Thomas.

Meet an incredible woman who broke down barriers throughout her whole life and is now known as one of the most preeminent painters of the twentieth century. Told from the point of view of young Alma Thomas, readers can follow along as she grows into her discovery of the life-changing power of art.

As a child in Georgia, Alma Thomas loved to spend time outside, soaking up the colors around her. And her parents filled their home with color and creativity despite the racial injustices they faced. After the family moved to Washington, DC, Alma shared her passion for art by teaching children. When she was almost seventy years old, she focused on her own artwork, inspired by nature and space travel.

In this celebration of art and the power of imagination, Jeanne Walker Harvey and Loveis Wise tell the incredible true story of Alma Thomas, the first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum in New York City and to have her work chosen for the White House collection. With her bold and vibrant abstract paintings, Alma set the world ablaze with color.

Ablaze with Color includes extensive back matter with photos, an author’s and illustrator’s note, a timeline, and a list of sources and resources that will be a great tool for parents, educators, and librarians. Perfect for Women’s History Month and Black History Month units alongside such favorites as Malala's Magic Pencil, Hidden Figures, and Mae Among the Stars.

A NAACP IMAGE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LITERARY CHILDREN'S WORK NOMINEE!
A JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN 2023 FINALIST!
A SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF 2022!
A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 2022 BEST BOOK FOR KIDS!
A CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST INFORMATIONAL BOOKS FOR YOUNGER READERS OF 2022!
A NERDY BOOK CLUB 2022 BEST NONFICTION BOOK!
A CCBC BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR, 2023!
A CHARTER OAK CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD NONFICTION NOMINEE!
A 2022 CALIBA GOLDEN POPPY AWARD FINALIST!
A 2023 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BOOK AWARD (NCBA) IN CHILDREN'S BOOKS: YOUNGER READERS NOMINEE!

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Reading age

4 - 8 years
Print length

40 pages
Language

English
Grade level

Preschool - 3
Dimensions

9 x 0.5 x 11.25 inches
Publisher

HarperCollins
Publication date

February 22, 2022
ISBN-10

0063021897
ISBN-13

978-0063021891

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This item: Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas: An Inspiring Art Story About Creativity and Bold Expression for Children (Ages 4–8)

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 4-Harvey rectifies an enormous wrong with this spirited biography of Black painter Alma Thomas (1891-1978), who is not nearly as renowned as she ought to be. In clear language and straightforward presentation, the author (Maya Lin) focuses on Thomas's family's intellectual ambitions and support of her aspirations, her love of nature and education, and her determination and persistence in the face of societal obstacles. Thomas's selflessness as a teacher clearly equaled her love of art: "Through color, I have sought to concentrate on beauty and happiness, rather than on man's inhumanity to man." Although midway through the book readers learn that she spent her adult life in Washington, DC, only by consulting the useful back matter do they find, for example, where Thomas was born (via a cleverly constructed time line). The handful of references include two books for older readers, complementing this one for the young. Wise celebrates Thomas's work with saturated, page-filling, vibrant color; the rich, flat, atmospheric compositions fit Thomas's tesselated style and high-key colors better than Obiora N. Anekwe's Alma's Dream. Though Thomas made most of her paintings after age 70, the concept of aging in these pages is not literal, but more stylized and impressionistic. VERDICT An inspiring introduction for artists and appreciators, as individuals or shared in groups -Patricia D. Lothropα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

This charming biography’s title describes not only Alma Thomas' signature paintings but the book’s radiant artwork, which emphasizes how the colors of the natural world inspired her unusual, iconic works. Neatly encapsulating a long life that saw social and personal upheaval, as well as gorgeously showcasing the art produced along the way and the natural world that inspired it, this title is a must for art and biography shelves. - Booklist (starred review)

This superb picture-book biography profiles Alma Thomas (1891–1978), the first Black woman to have art displayed in the White House’s permanent collection. Harvey’s (Maya Lin, rev. 7/17) poetic text is imagistic and deftly paced; Wise’s (The People Remember, rev. 11/21) digital artwork is boldly, fittingly colorful. - Horn Book (starred review)

In clear language and straightforward presentation, the author (Maya Lin) focuses on Thomas’s family’s intellectual ambitions and support of her aspirations, her love of nature and education, and her determination and persistence in the face of societal obstacles. Wise celebrates Thomas’s work with saturated, page-filling, vibrant color; the rich, flat, atmospheric compositions fit Thomas’s tessellated style and high-key colors. An inspiring introduction for artists and appreciators, as individuals or shared in groups. - School Library Journal (starred review)

The text achieves a fine balance of evocative lyricism and straightforward exposition. Wise’s vibrant, eye-catching illustrations contain echoes of Thomas’ signature abstract style, with its colorful mosaic-like patterns and tessellated brush strokes. Uplifting with hope and ablaze with joyous colors! - Kirkus Reviews

That “Alma did not live to see the momentous day—when the first Black president and First Lady chose Alma’s painting as the first artwork by a Black woman to be displayed in the White House” closes her story with a single bittersweet episode in a tour de force career. Wise’s digital art pops with color and features slightly abstracted figures, mirroring but never mimicking Thomas’ visual explosion of hues. - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 22, 2022
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0063021897
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0063021891
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9 x 0.5 x 11.25 inches
Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
Best Sellers Rank: #69,707 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #31 in Children's Art History
- #37 in Children's Art Biographies (Books)
- #39 in Children's American Local History
Customer Reviews:
(143)

About the author

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Jeanne Walker Harvey

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Jeanne loves finding a true story (often about an inspiring creative person) that is engaging and fascinating, and then using her creativity to tell the story. She hopes children will have a love of words and understand the power and beauty of words.

Ever since she was a child, Jeanne dreamed of being a childrens book author. Along the way she has had many jobs, ranging from being a roller coaster ride operator to an attorney for high-tech companies to a writer of magazine articles to a teacher of Language Arts and writing workshops at a public middle school. She studied literature and psychology at Stanford University, and volunteered for many years at the local public school library, the Marin County Literacy Program, as a docent for school groups at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and as a board member for both the Sausalito Public Library and Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.

She lives in Northern California. She has two wonderful grown sons and an adorable adopted cat. As she prefers silence when she is writing, her cat is a perfect companion because she sits on her papers and only walks across her laptop when she wants to be petted. Jeanne loves to take breaks by dancing in classes, hiking in nature, and gardening (especially growing flowers).

Visit her websote for free downloadable activities tied to her books. She also features other authors' NEW picture book biographies on her blog on her website.

Jeanne loves to hear from readers, teachers and librarians! She'll write back!

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