Description

---

Coretta Scott King Book Award, Illustrator, Honor
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award, Honor
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, Nonfiction Honor
Parent's Choice Award
Wall Street Journal's 10 Best Children's Books of the Year List
Bologna Ragazzi Nonfiction Honor 2014

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.

About the Author

---

Patricia Hruby Powell danced throughout the Americas and Europe with her dance company, One Plus One, before becoming a writer of children's books. She lives in Champaign, Illinois.

Christian Robinson, formerly at Pixar Studios and Sesame Street Workshop, lives in San Francisco.

Praise For…

---

"Lovely."--Library Media Connection

"Honors the colorful exuberance of both the Jazz era and Baker's life."--Booklist

"Honors the colorful exuberance of both the Jazz era and Baker's life."--Booklist

"Truly amazing."--Richie Partington, Richie's Picks

"Truly amazing."--Richie Partington, Richie's Picks

The Wall Street Journal Best Books of the Year

"An extraordinary dancer and woman is here celebrated with style and empathy."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"If your child's gotta sing and gotta dance, then she's gotta read this book, too."--Houston Style Magazine

"If your child's gotta sing and gotta dance, then she's gotta read this book, too."--Houston Style Magazine

"An extraordinary dancer and woman is here celebrated with style and empathy."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"An extraordinary dancer and woman is here celebrated with style and empathy."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Scrupulously researched, high-spirited celebration of the color-line-crossing dancer."--Los Angeles Times

"A triumph of a strong, determined African-American woman over prejudice and parochialism. And it makes for a gripping tale."--The Denver Post

"Scrupulously researched, high-spirited celebration of the color-line-crossing dancer."--Los Angeles Times

"Scrupulously researched, high-spirited celebration of the color-line-crossing dancer."--Los Angeles Times

"A triumph of a strong, determined African-American woman over prejudice and parochialism. And it makes for a gripping tale."--The Denver Post

"A triumph of a strong, determined African-American woman over prejudice and parochialism. And it makes for a gripping tale."--The Denver Post

"An engaging read aloud with many possibilities for discussion, follow up research and writing.but it doesn't have to be an educational lesson either.it's just a fun read."--Cindy Dobrez, Bookends, a Booklist Blog

"Honors the colorful exuberance of both the Jazz era and Baker's life."--Booklist

"An engaging read aloud with many possibilities for discussion, follow up research and writing.but it doesn't have to be an educational lesson either.it's just a fun read."--Cindy Dobrez, Bookends, a Booklist Blog

"An engaging read aloud with many possibilities for discussion, follow up research and writing.but it doesn't have to be an educational lesson either.it's just a fun read."--Cindy Dobrez, Bookends, a Booklist Blog

"Lovely."--Library Media Connection

"Lovely."--Library Media Connection

"Truly amazing."--Richie Partington, Richie's Picks

"If your child's gotta sing and gotta dance, then she's gotta read this book, too."--Houston Style Magazine

The Wall Street Journal Best Books of the Year

The Wall Street Journal Best Books of the Year

"Baker's entire life spreads out in this tapestry of words."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Baker's entire life spreads out in this tapestry of words."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Josephine dances through these pages with such exuberance, she brings light to each dark corner. A beautiful book."-- Helen Frost, author of the Printz Honor-winning Keesha's House

"Captivating. a fun, enriching, and holistic reading experience."--School Library Journal, starred review

"This liberally illustrated biography of Josephine Baker captures a remarkable, courageous woman whose life and art were inseparable."--Shelf Awareness

"This liberally illustrated biography of Josephine Baker captures a remarkable, courageous woman whose life and art were inseparable."--Shelf Awareness

"I opened this picture book and was completely amazed."--ReaderTotz

"I opened this picture book and was completely amazed."--ReaderTotz

"Your kids will be dancing around in banana skirts after reading this one."--NPR Best Books of The Year

"An extraordinary tribute to an American legend."--Bookpage

"Entertaining and informative... sure to capture the imagination."--KidsReads

"Entertaining and informative... sure to capture the imagination."--KidsReads

"Wowed me. "--Roundtable Reviews

"Wowed me. "--Roundtable Reviews

"What an excellent book this is."--Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

"One of the most superb books you'll see all year. Excellent writing and dynamic illustrations that fit together like puzzle pieces."--Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

"Powell and Robinson create a biography of a woman whose life and art are inseparable."--Shelf Awareness for Readers, starred review

"Powell and Robinson create a biography of a woman whose life and art are inseparable."--Shelf Awareness for Readers, starred review

"As complex, vibrant, and endearing as Josephine Baker herself."--Cool Mom Picks

"As complex, vibrant, and endearing as Josephine Baker herself."--Cool Mom Picks

"C'est magnifique!" -- The Horn Book, starred review

"It's also, thus far, one of my very favorite picture books of all of 2014." --BookPage

"A spectacular collaboration, a spotlight on an unforgettable lady."--Design of the Picture Book

"A spectacular collaboration, a spotlight on an unforgettable lady."--Design of the Picture Book

'This is a unique picture book biography, presenting Baker's life in poetic text that hums with rhythm."--Great Books for Kids

'This is a unique picture book biography, presenting Baker's life in poetic text that hums with rhythm."--Great Books for Kids

'This is a unique picture book biography, presenting Baker's life in poetic text that hums with rhythm."--Great Books for Kids

"Some books strike you as more than a book. The words and artwork refuse to stay on the page. They lift up and dance on your tongue, fill your ears with music, and send motion pictures before your eyes - swooping you away to another time and place like magic. So it is with JOSEPHINE ."--Elizebeth Dulemba

"Some books strike you as more than a book. The words and artwork refuse to stay on the page. They lift up and dance on your tongue, fill your ears with music, and send motion pictures before your eyes - swooping you away to another time and place like magic. So it is with JOSEPHINE ."--Elizebeth Dulemba

"Some books strike you as more than a book. The words and artwork refuse to stay on the page. They lift up and dance on your tongue, fill your ears with music, and send motion pictures before your eyes - swooping you away to another time and place like magic. So it is with JOSEPHINE ."--Elizebeth Dulemba

"Factual and yet poetic. defies convention as boldly as its subject did."- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Factual and yet poetic. defies convention as boldly as its subject did."- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Factual and yet poetic. defies convention as boldly as its subject did."- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

A Junior Library Guild Selection

A Junior Library Guild Selection

A Junior Library Guild Selection

"A picture book that simply will not quit."-Wall Street Journal

"A picture book that simply will not quit."-Wall Street Journal

"A picture book that simply will not quit."-Wall Street Journal

"Author Patricia Hruby Powell casts Josephine Baker's story as a triumph of a strong, determined African-American woman over prejudice and parochialism. And it makes for a gripping tale."--The Denver Post

"Author Patricia Hruby Powell casts Josephine Baker's story as a triumph of a strong, determined African-American woman over prejudice and parochialism. And it makes for a gripping tale."--The Denver Post

"Author Patricia Hruby Powell casts Josephine Baker's story as a triumph of a strong, determined African-American woman over prejudice and parochialism. And it makes for a gripping tale."--The Denver Post

"An extraordinary tribute to an American legend."--Bookpage

"An extraordinary tribute to an American legend."--Bookpage

"Wowed me. "--Roundtable Reviews

"Powell and Robinson create a biography of a woman whose life and art are inseparable."--Shelf Awareness for Readers, starred review

"What an excellent book this is."--Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

"What an excellent book this is."--Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

"One of the most superb books you'll see all year. Excellent writing and dynamic illustrations that fit together like puzzle pieces."--Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

"One of the most superb books you'll see all year. Excellent writing and dynamic illustrations that fit together like puzzle pieces."--Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

"As complex, vibrant, and endearing as Josephine Baker herself."--Cool Mom Picks

"A spectacular collaboration, a spotlight on an unforgettable lady."--Design of the Picture Book

"C'est magnifique!" -- The Horn Book, starred review

"C'est magnifique!" -- The Horn Book, starred review

"It's also, thus far, one of my very favorite picture books of all of 2014." --BookPage

"It's also, thus far, one of my very favorite picture books of all of 2014." --BookPage

"Baker's entire life spreads out in this tapestry of words."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This liberally illustrated biography of Josephine Baker captures a remarkable, courageous woman whose life and art were inseparable."--Shelf Awareness

"Josephine dances through these pages with such exuberance, she brings light to each dark corner. A beautiful book."-- Helen Frost, author of the Printz Honor-winning Keesha's House

"Josephine dances through these pages with such exuberance, she brings light to each dark corner. A beautiful book."-- Helen Frost, author of the Printz Honor-winning Keesha's House

"Captivating. a fun, enriching, and holistic reading experience."--School Library Journal, starred review

"Captivating. a fun, enriching, and holistic reading experience."--School Library Journal, starred review

"I opened this picture book and was completely amazed."--ReaderTotz

"Entertaining and informative... sure to capture the imagination."--KidsReads

"Your kids will be dancing around in banana skirts after reading this one."--NPR Best Books of The Year

"Your kids will be dancing around in banana skirts after reading this one."--NPR Best Books of The Year