Jen Bryant

FROM SARAH:

Another masterpiece by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet! Jen doesn't shy away from the hardships in Pippin's life, including war and prejudice, but she lets his resilience and warmth take the lead. The result is a lyrical, accessible portrait that shows how making art can help a person make sense of the world.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet team up once again to share this inspiring story of a self-taught painter from humble beginnings who despite many obstacles, was ultimately able to do what he loved, and be recognized for who he was: an artist.

FROM SARAH:

The compelling picture book biography of Louis Braille. My own 7 year-old asked me to read this one again and again. Discover the story of a boy who loses his sight and finds a gift for the world.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

An inspiring picture-book biography of Louis Braille—a blind boy so determined to read that he invented his own alphabet.

FROM SARAH

A marvelous picture book biography about shy Peter Mark Roget, who loved words and loved order ... and changed the world with his own combination of the two! Excellent – especially for older kids.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Peter took his love for words and turned it to organizing ideas and finding exactly the right word to express just what he thought. His lists grew and grew, eventually turning into one of the most important reference books of all time.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A celebration of August Wilson’s journey from a child in Pittsburgh to one of America’s greatest playwrights.

FROM SARAH:

Elgin Baylor shaped the way basketball looks today, yet many young readers (and plenty of grown-ups) have never heard his name. Jen Bryant’s lively text, paired with Frank Morrison’s gloriously energetic illustrations, tells the story of the player who seemed to defy the laws of physics on the court.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The story of Elgin Baylor, basketball icon and civil rights advocate, from an all-star team.

FROM SARAH:

This hushed, glowing picture book follows Georgia from the Wisconsin farmland to the red cliffs of New Mexico, where she gathered bones like treasures and painted them so large and luminous that the whole world had to look twice. It’s a gentle reminder that seeing things your own way is an art all by itself.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Growing up on a Wisconsin farm, Georgia O'Keeffe began gathering all sorts of objects ― sticks and stones, flowers and bones. Although she was teased for her interest in unique shapes and sizes, young Georgia declared: “Someday, I’m going to be an artist” ― and that is exactly what she became.

FROM SARAH:

William Carlos Williams believed poetry didn't belong in lofty places, so he spent his life looking for art in the ordinary. Melissa Sweet's collage-style illustrations, layered with found objects and handwritten bits, echo William’s habit of finding beauty in everyday things. It’s easy to see why this one earned a Caldecott Honor Award!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this picture book biography of William Carlos Williams, Jen Bryant’s engaging prose and Melissa Sweet’s stunning mixed-media illustrations celebrate the amazing man who found a way to earn a living and to honor his calling to be a poet.