And She Was Loved

Author

Andrea Davis Pinkney

Illustrator

Daniel Minter

Publication Date

January 07, 2025

Genre / Grade Band

- / 4^th − 5^th

Hardcover

Description

Stunning poetry and illustrations introduce a new generation to the beloved literary icon Toni Morrison, by New York Times bestselling author Andrea Davis Pinkney and Caldecott Honor winner Daniel Minter.

From imaginative child to visionary storyteller, Toni Morrison was a fiercely inspiring writer that helped change the world. This poetic picture book is part love letter and part biography, praising the power of this Nobel Prize winner. With its tender refrain, readers will know how much Morrison's stories -- and their own -- mean to the world. She was loved -- and so are they!

Publication date

January 07, 2025

Classification

Page Count

ISBN-13

9780316182362

Lexile Measure

Guided Reading Level

Publisher

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Series

BISAC categories

JUV000000 - Juvenile Fiction | General

Library of Congress categories

African Americans
Biographies
20th century
Women
Authors
Morrison, Toni
African American women novelists

School Library Journal

Starred Review

PreS-Gr 3--From the moment Toni Morrison drew chalk drawings on the sidewalk, she was a storyteller. Told in verse, Pinkney's beautiful homage to Morrison begins in her birthplace of Lorain, OH. Her childhood was filled with playing with her siblings, hopscotch, and ABCs. Morrison went on to study at Howard University and it was there that she left behind her birth name, Chloe Ardelia. After graduating, she became a literary agent, ushering Black writers into what was a predominantly white space. After reading others' stories, she decided to tell stories of her own, eventually publishing her venerable list. Pinkney's expertly woven lines tell the story of how the girl who was playing games with her siblings became the phenomenal writer behind so many works. Floral patterns and line drawings merge in vibrant illustrations to create unique pieces of art that adorn each spread. VERDICT This winning tribute to a great American writer is a must-purchase for picture book collections.--Myiesha Speight

Publishers Weekly

Reiteratively employing the refrain "And she was loved...," this telling traces the life and work of Toni Morrison (1931-2019), from sidewalk chalk drawings made during her Lorain, Ohio, childhood to a legacy borne of "griot grit." While managing single motherhood and nurturing Black writers' dreams as a book editor, "you manage a scribbled story about a Black girl wishing for sapphire eyes, " leading to further works, and eventually to awards including "Pulitzer./ Nobel./ Presidential Medal." Reverent lines from Davis Pinkney use the language of "planting and tilling" throughout. Background washes by Minter, a study in radiant paintwork, overflow with white-outlined flowers that represent "Chloe Ardelia," Morrison's given name, which means "blooming floret." More glowing tribute than straight biography, it's a soulful paean to a beloved creator. Back matter includes creators' notes, biographical details, and a timeline. Ages 4-8. (Jan.)

Kirkus

Starred Review

A potent example of the reach of artistic genius.

Andrea Davis Pinkney

Andrea Davis Pinkney(andreadavispinkney.com) is the New York Timesbestselling and award-winning author of numerous books for children and young adults, and has been recognized by the Coretta Scott King Author Award committee with an honor for Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fightersand a medal for Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America. She is a four-time nominee for the NAACP Image Award. In addition to her work as an author, Ms. Pinkney is a publishing executive. She has been named one of the "25 Most Influential Black Women in Business" by The Network Journal, and is among Children's Health magazine's "25 Most Influential People in Our Children's Lives." You can follow her on Twitter @AndreaDavisPink.

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