The Sculptors of Light

poems about Cuban

women artists

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Reycraft Books

(pub.10.10.2023)

32 pages

Ages 9-14 years

Author: Margarita Engle

and Illustrator: Cecilia Puglesi

Characters: 8 Cuban women artists

Overview:

"From folk art to photography, architecture to painting, sculpture to music, female Cuban artists have long gone unnoticed on a global scale. This poetry collection highlights the lives and legacies of eight Cuban women who have redefined art in their communities. Also includes biographical information about the artists."

Tantalizing taste:

"MINIMALIST

Carmen Herrera

(1915-2022)

decades of patience

her quest for the stark beauty

of simplicity

straight lines - bold colors that reach

a bright sky of surprises "

And something more: The Historical Note on this page explains that "Carmen Herrera was born in Havana and has lived in the U.S. since the 1950s. As the youngest of seven children in a crowded home, she learned to value quiet simplicity. She worked in obscurity for much of her youth, rejected by galleries and museums because she was female and an immigrants. At the age of 89, she finally sold a painting. Her work is now highly valued and has been collected by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C In 2019, when she was 104, New York City exhibited five of her sculptures outdoors."

In an introductory letter to readers, author Margarita Engle writes, "... Never let anyone convince you there is no room for more women artists from every country and every culture. When you create something beautiful, sign your name!"

Extraordinary Magic

The Storytelling Life of

Virginia Hamilton

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Christy Ottaviano Books

(Little Brown)

(pub.1.9.2024)

40 pages

Ages 4-8

Author and Illustrator: Nina Crews

Character: Virginia Hamilton

Overview:

"Virginia Hamilton was only nine years old when she decided she would become a writer. Growing up in the countryside of Ohio, she listened to her family’s stories and knew that words held extraordinary magic. From her childhood years discovering her love for storytelling, to her early adult life honing her craft in the city, Virginia found her voice in her writing as she began a career defined by her roots.  

Through interconnected poems, this moving biography celebrates the remarkable life of the highly decorated and much beloved Virginia Hamilton. It’s a stunning tribute to a girl who dared to dream—and inspired those after her to do the same.Virginia Hamilton was only nine years old when she decided she would become a writer. Growing up in the countryside of Ohio, she listened to her family’s stories and knew that words held extraordinary magic. From her childhood years discovering her love for storytelling, to her early adult life honing her craft in the city, Virginia found her voice in her writing as she began a career defined by her roots."

Tantalizing taste:

"They snuffed and snorted and grunted.

The hogs wallowed in the mud outside the barn.

The scent of hay and manure filled the air.

She shushed and tsked and

told the hogs to be just a little bit quieter.

Didn't they know that she was writing her novel?

Virginia filled page after page of her notebook,

dove deep into the stream of her dreams,

and soon, the world around her fell quiet."

And something more: Nina Crews, in the Author's Note explains that "Each poem in this book is anchored by a single word and highlights anecdotes and themes that Hamilton shared in speeches, essays, and interviews. She believed that childhood could provide all that a writer needed to create fiction. With that in mind, I let her descriptions of people, places, and events from her younger years lead me to this re-creation of her past. Her novels provided insights as well, for even though they are not autobiographical, her childhood finds its way into many of her stories."

Coretta

The Autobiography of

Mrs. Coretta Scott King

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Godwin Books

(Henry Holt and Company

(pub.1.2.2)

40 pages

Ages 4-8

Author: Coretta Scott King

with the Reverend Dr. Barbara Reynolds

Illustrator: Ekua Holmes

Character: Coretta Scott King

Overview:

"This is the autobiography of Coretta Scott King––wife of Martin Luther King, Jr.; founder of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (the King Center); architect of the MLK, Jr. legacy; and global leader in movements for civil and human rights as well as peace. Learn about how a girl born in the segregated deep south became a global leader at the forefront of the peace movement and an unforgettable champion of social change.

Resilience, bravery, and joy lie at the center of this timeless story about fighting for justice against all odds."

Tantalizing taste:

"I would finish what Martin and the movement started. I decided to continue with the march in Memphis.

[There,] I spoke without notes, from the heart. I challenged the crowds to 'see that Martin's spirit never dies, and that we will go forward from this experience.'"

And something more: The book ends with these words by Coretta Scott King: "I want people to know that I was committed to leaving an eternal flame, built on love, that would never be extinguished. Love is not a program, not a political party, not a race. It is a promise with a power all its own. The contributions of Martin and me, and of those behind and before us, are the greatest witnesses I can imagine to the power of love in action.

The Dream is a work that is very much in progress. I am counting on the next generation."