Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker

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Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker was written by Patricia Hruby Powell and illustrated by Christian Robinson. This book has 104 pages and it was published in January 14th, 2014 by Chronicle Books but first publication was made in December 1st 2013. It won some Literary Awards such as, Sibert Medal Nominee in 2015, Coretta Scott King Book Award for Illustrator Honor in 201), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Picture Books in 2014. [1]

Summary

In exuberant verse and stirring pictures, Patricia Hruby Powell and Christian Robinson create an extraordinary portrait for young people of the passionate performer and civil rights advocate Josephine Baker, the woman who worked her way from the slums of St. Louis to the grandest stages in the world. Meticulously researched by both author and artist, Josephine's powerful story of struggle and triumph is an inspiration and a spectacle, just like the legend herself. [2]

Pros

Anna Olswanger as one of the readers stated that Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker is a middle-grade biography of Josephine Baker was the African-American dancer who made it big in Paris in the 1920’s when this country was too racist to accept a "colored" super-star. Patricia Hruby Powell's Josephine , told in blank verse, is a wild dance, like Josephine’s life. And the author, who has been a solo concert dancer throughout the Americas and Europe, seems to be the right person to tell the story. In 1925 Josephine Baker was catapulted to fame and fortune when she danced the Charleston in Paris. She came from the poorest of the poor to become the richest woman in the world, doing what she loved—dancing and singing. She had ideals and followed them fearlessly and tirelessly throughout her life. She worked for the French Resistance during WWII, civil rights in the U.S., and adopted twelve children of various races whom she called her Rainbow Tribe. Other reader named David Schaafsma also mentioned that Josephine Baker was a dancer who moved from a very racist country for African Americans in the twenties to a less racist one, France, to the U.S.'s loss and shame. She was an humanitarian, helped the cause of France in WWII, and as a dancer, and civil rights activist, she was internationally famous. Powell, who writes this biography, was also a dancer so in her blank verse captures the spirit of dance and Josephine as dancer, but the artwork by Christian Powell is even better than the story, in my opinion, colorful, and jazzy and funky and sophisticated. Josephine was like Madonna, known by one name wherever she went, an international celebrity. This illustrated biography will introduce her to many and keep her in the consciousness of many more. [1]

Erin Anderson from Booklist's site also taking part in complementing this book, she said thath Josephine was a free-verse biographical poem that pulls its inspiration from the life of a fascinating performer and civil rights pioneer. Josephine Baker grew up in the shantytowns of St. Louis, often considered the home of ragtime music. At only 13, she left home to travel with a dance troupe, honing her silly on-stage persona and earning pennies. Through a series of unlikely but fortunate events, her talent was discovered and soon she was dancing the Charleston on a stage in Paris. While most of the milestones of her notorious career and turbulent life are included, Powell focuses on events that carried the most personal weight for Baker, such as almost losing her leg in a childhood accident, her refusal to dance in segregated American dance halls, and her first time on a transatlantic boat trip. Quotes from Baker punctuate the engaging narrative poem and Robinson’s gorgeous, colorful acrylics (with cute Lego-faced characters) honor the colorful exuberance of both the Jazz era and Baker’s life. Well researched and spirited, this features innumerable points of discussion for young readers. This book is appropriate for grades 2-4. [3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker. Retrieved February 10th, 2021
  2. YJosephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker. Retrieved February 10th, 2021
  3. Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker. Retrieved February 10th, 2021