We Can: Portraits of Power
by Tyler Gordon (Author)
"When I was born, the doctors told my mom that if I did survive I would have lots of health problems and be blind, deaf and severely mentally delayed . . . Boy were they wrong!" --Tyler Gordon
Fifteen-year-old Tyler Gordon's journey from a regular kid growing up in San Jose, California, to a nationally recognized artist wasn't without its challenges. For the first six years of his life he was fully deaf, which led to a stutter and bullying. Art gave him a creative outlet for his pain.
Then, after painting a portrait of Kamala Harris and posting it on social media, he received a call from the vice president herself! Soon his art was everywhere. He had an interview with the The Today Show. He was the youngest artist featured in the Beverly Center. His portrait of LeBron James graced the cover of TIME Magazine. And that was only the beginning!
Here is a debut picture book by partially deaf prodigy Tyler Gordon, featuring his bold paintings of over 30 icons--musicians, artists, writers, civils rights leaders, sports legends, change-makers, record-setters, and more--alongside short explanations of how these people inspire him. If Tyler can make art and follow his dreams, you can, too. We all can.
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Publishers Weekly
Prolific Black teen portraitist Gordon presents a collection of portrait busts of icons, mostly Black figures who have left--or are leaving--their mark on culture, through film (Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis), literature (Maya Angelou), music (the Beatles, Bob Marley), and sports (Lebron James, Colin Kaepernick, Naomi Osaka), and via civil rights (Martin Luther King Jr.), political offices (Kamala Harris, John Lewis), and the presidency of the United States (Biden and Obama each make an appearance). Distinct, pop art-esque paintings, rendered in grayscale against colorful monochrome backgrounds, adeptly recall their inspirations; each likeness is appended by a brief paragraph about the figure portrayed, highlighting career milestones alongside personal connections or resonances in a conversational style: "Ms. Amanda and I have a lot in common: We both have a twin sibling, we were both born prematurely, and we both have similar speech impediments." More gallery than resource, this picture book will pique the interest of those interested in art and biographical profiles. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)
Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
Gordon's observant eye has allowed him to take courage in the work of others as he creates his own paintings. The art is poignant and perfectly aligns with the text. VERDICT The title is perfect for public and school libraries looking to amplify diverse voices. — School Library Journal, starred review
His full-page, immediately recognizable portraits consist of bold black-and-white patterns set off by bright splashes of color. Brief commentaries explain his choices, and it's especially effective when he shares insights about his actual painting process...Aspiring artists will be impressed and inspired.— Kathleen McBroomJNF006050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Art | Painting
JNF069000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Diversity & Multicultural
Athletes
Celebrities
African American painters
Politicians
Portrait painting
Gordon, Tyler
