There Was a Party for Langston: King O’ Letters, with art by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey, written by Jason Reynolds, published by A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book/Atheneum Books for Young Readers (an imprint of Simon & Schuster), ISBN: 978-1534439443.
In an afterword, the great writer Jason Reynolds talks about how he once discovered a photo of two of his “favorite word makers” Maya Angelou and Amiri Baraka dancing up a storm. The book shares this joyous photograph of these two amazing writers happily boogieing at a party in honor of the legendary and influential “word maker of all word makers” Langston Hughes. Reynolds uses this image as a springboard to celebrate Hughes’ life, from daydreaming boy who turned “birds into words flying all around him,” to the groundbreaking writer who inspired those around him and future generations.
Reynolds’ poetic, concise text radiates joy and begs to be read aloud, bursting with creativity. He makes it all look so easy as he creates unforgettable images with his words. It starts off feeling like a picture book biography about Hughes, but then Reynolds whisks us to a Harlem library where the “blowout for Langston” occurs. With the amazing Gwendolyn Brooks and Ashley Bryan (and others) looking on, here comes the aforementioned dance with Maya and Amiri. Reynolds slips in some facts about these two as well. And the book becomes something new entirely.
Brothers Jerome and Jarrett Pumphrey use their signature stamp approach when assembling the playful, delightful illustrations. Their propulsive work matches the vibrancy of Reynolds’ text. Words take the form of shapes, swirl around the page with magnetic grace. Maya appears as a constellation in one gorgeous moment. The book is transcendent from start to finish.
A Walk in the Woods, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney, written by Nikki Grimes, published by Neal Porter Books (an imprint of Holiday House), ISBN: 978-0823449651.
In his lifetime, Jerry Pinkney worked on over 100 books and received much well-deserved acclaim. He developed a breathtakingly beautiful signature style, creating memorable poetic images with his watercolors and pencils. According to her afterword, writer Nikki Grimes says that she and Pinkney were talking in 2019 and realized that they had never worked together. They finally teamed up. But sadly, Jerry passed away in 2021 before he completed the art. His son Brian, a terrific artist himself, stepped in and helped finish the work (with niece Charnelle Pinkney Barlow skillfully merging Jerry’s and Brian’s work on the computer).
What emerges is one of the most haunting picture books I have ever read. In the story, a boy misses his father who used to take him for walks in the woods. Dad has just passed away, and the son painfully grieves. The father has left him a map that leads him to a hidden treasure in these very woods. Wow, what an amazing discovery. Images and words from the father’s childhood, that the father himself created.
The book works as a loving and hopeful tribute to an artist and writer who made tremendous impact on the world of children’s literature. Jerry Pinkney. Written with care and beauty by Grimes, a writer who has done the same. And made all the more powerful by Brian Pinkney, who has also contributed timeless classics over the years. Pair this with Jerry Pinkney’s wonderful memoir Just Jerry, which came out earlier in the year.
Quite simply, one of the year’s very best.
Mr. Brian's Picture Book Picks 