Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee!

In Take a Picture of Me, James VanDerZee, Andrea J. money portrays the life of a distinguished photographer who, “wanted to share the beauty he saw in his heart.” He worked hard and was dedicated to his craft, capturing each person’s story on film in artistically innovative ways. James VanDerZee’s gift, heart, and passion comes to life on every page through brilliant storytelling and visual artistry.Keith Mallett’s illustrations took me back in time and pulled me in as the story unfolded. Each page was stunning but my absolute favorite was the depiction of James VanDerZee’s Harlem on My Mind Exhibit in New York. I love the contrast. The people were in color and the 40 years of Harlem’s history is portrayed through black and white photos. It surely is a sight to see.I wholeheartedly enjoyed this story and was equally intrigued by the afterword that included a gallery of some of James VanDerZee’s work; my favorite piece being “Future Expectations” (1926) where he used a photomontage technique to depict both the present and the future in one photograph. Absolutely amazing! Hurry up and grab your copy of this Lee & Low Books New Voices award winning book.

For Black History Month for a student who wants to be a photographer.

This is a wonderful, inspiring book...the kind you might have read as a child and have never forgotten. The bonus is, it feeds the imagination more fully, because it's all true! More books like these are needed to inspire all children to pursue their interests with perseverance and passion. The historical notes at the end are especially appealing, giving greater context to James Van Der Zee's story, a history lesson to adults as well as children, and a reason to give this work a place of honor on the shelf of your favorite reads.

A beautifully written picture book biography highlighting the passion and persistence of the humble and talented photographer, James VanDerZee. The story is fascinating, the illustrations are stunning and the back matter is like a story in itself. Andrea J. Loney includes actual photographs taken by James VanDerZee and shows how he retouched images back in the 1930s. No wonder this book is scooping up award nominations!

A wonderful book for parents and children of all ages. Only made more important when we went to the Whitney Museum and saw James VanderZee's photographs in person - my 8 and 6 year old loved that they knew who he was and the story of his life - they appreciated his work even more!

What a beautiful example of a narrative non-fiction picture book! An engaging story of passion, hope and perseverance to inspire any child. I also used it to compliment art enrichment curriculum about James Vanderzee's work.

Beautiful language and illustrations bring African-American photographer James VanDerZee to life just as his photographs did for the Harlem Renaissance and the people and culture of Harlem. The book is a gift for children and kids a like.

A compelling and inspiring biography of photographer James VanDerZee, beautifully written and illustrated. The depth of research shines through on every page. This is a wonderful picture book for school and home libraries.

One for generations.