André: André Leon Talley-A Fabulously Fashionable Fairy Tale

by Carole Boston Weatherford, Rob Sanders, Lamont O'Neal (Illustrator)

Overview

This captivating biography chronicles the remarkable journey of fashion legend André Leon Talley–from humble beginnings in rural North Carolina to the pinnacle of the international world of fashion.

Growing up in the Jim Crow South wasn't easy for young André. He escaped into the glimmering worlds he discovered inside magazines like Ebony and Vogue. He fell in love with all things French, and honed his taste for elegance and style in spite of those who judged and bullied him. Standing tall against all odds, André spun his hardships into a fashion fairytale of his own making.

With exuberant prose and luminous illustrations, this picture book biography shares the inspiring story of majestic icon André Leon Talley and his enduring legacy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250887283
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	11/11/2025
Pages:	56
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Carole Boston Weatherford is the award-winning author of more than 50 books of poetry, nonfiction, and children's literature. She is the recipient of a Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Author Honor, two NAACP Image Awards, a WNDB Walter Award, and numerous other accolades. Her books include I, Matthew Henson; Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive; and Be a King. She resides in North Carolina where she teaches at Fayetteville State University.

Rob Sanders is an acclaimed writer who teaches, and a teacher who writes. He is the author of Cowboy Christmas, Crystal Kite-winner Outer Space Bedtime Race, Ruby Rose - Off to School She Goes, Ruby Rose - Big Bravos, Rodzilla, Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, and Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights. Rob lives in Florida where he teaches elementary school.

Lamont O’Neal began drawing as a child, inspired by comic books and fashion magazines. He has been published in nearly every aspect of the fashion world, including the magazines Cosmopolitan, New York, GQ, and Essence. His list of fashion designer clients includes Oscar de la Renta, American Eagle and Polo Ralph Lauren. His credits include portraiture, children’s books and illustrations. He lives and draws in Yardley, Pennsylvania.

Editorial Reviews

"The narrative roughs out a real-life road map for readers who see themselves in the hero. Affirming and important."—Kirkus

From the Publisher

2025-06-13
“My story is a fairy tale.”

So opens this empowering biography of trailblazing style maker André Leon Talley (1948-2022), the first Black man to serve asVogue’s editor-at-large, creative director, and fashion news director. But this fantasy wasn’t born from lucky happenstance or serendipitous privilege; Talley’s talent and tenacity conjured the magic that colors his story. Growing up in Jim Crow–era North Carolina, Talley endured racism, homophobia, and sexual abuse, all the while shrouded in his grandmother’s unconditional love. Fashion offered escape, and Talley took it, doggedly pursuing the work that would eventually land him an (unpaid) gig under Diana Vreeland, former editor forVogue. Talley rose to prominence, setting trends, challenging convention, and standing tall against hatred; as he put it, he “scorched the earth” with his singular vision, forever transforming the fashion industry with gifts cultivated under his grandmother’s care. Weatherford and Sanders’ text, interspersed with Talley’s own words, renders a detailed portrait of the legendary figure, offering extensive proof of his initiative and resilience. The beauty of Blackness is named explicitly throughout, but Talley’s sexual identity is broached only obliquely; while the subtlety may elude younger readers, this ambiguity will allow others to recognize their own experiences. O’Neal cleverly evokes sewing patterns of yore, a visual boon. And while both authors and illustrator pay homage to similarly magical myths—among them Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood—the narrative roughs out a real-life road map for readers who see themselves in the hero.

Affirming and important. (authors' note, information on people referenced, glossary, note about HIV/AIDS, sources for quotes, bibliography)(Picture-book biography. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews