Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks

by Suzanne Slade, Cozbi A. Cabrera (Illustrator)

Overview

A picture-book biography of celebrated poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the first Black person to win the Pulitzer Prize

A 2021 Coretta Scott King Book Award Illustrator Honor Book
A 2021 Robert F. Sibert Informational Honor Book
A 2021 Association of Library Service to Children Notable Children's Book

Gwendolyn Brooks (1917–2000) is known for her poems about “real life.” She wrote about love, loneliness, family, and poverty—showing readers how just about anything could become a beautiful poem. Exquisite follows Gwendolyn from early girlhood into her adult life, showcasing her desire to write poetry from a very young age. This picture-book biography explores the intersections of race, gender, and the ubiquitous poverty of the Great Depression—all with a lyrical touch worthy of the subject. Gwendolyn Brooks was the first Black person to win the Pulitzer Prize, receiving the award for poetry in 1950. And in 1958, she was named the poet laureate of Illinois. A bold artist who from a very young age dared to dream, Brooks will inspire young readers to create poetry from their own lives.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419734113
Publisher:	ABRAMS
Publication date:	04/07/2020
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	96,748
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	870L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Suzanne Slade is the award-winning author of many books for children, including several about other groundbreaking women, such as Dangerous Jane and A Computer Called Katherine. Slade lives in Libertyville, Illinois. Cozbi A. Cabrera holds a BFA from Parsons School of Design. She has illustrated several books for children and is also well known for her handmade cloth dolls. Cabrera lives in Evanston, Illinois.

Editorial Reviews

04/06/2020

In stirring free verse and resplendent acrylic paintings, these collaborators pay affecting tribute to Brooks, who, in 1950, became the first black person to receive a Pulitzer Prize. Laced with Brooks’s spoken and written words, the lyrical narrative by Slade echoes the personal tenor of the subject’s poetry, inspired by “the nonstop busyness, the hard-luck grittiness” of her neighborhood in Chicago’s South Side. One of Brooks’s poems, “Clouds,” printed at the book’s end, provides a leitmotif executed in tandem by Slade and Cabrera; in one spread that includes a quote from the poet, a young Brooks gazes at a cotton candy–hued sunset sky, dreaming about the future. Despite publishers’ rejection letters and financial struggles during the Depression, she continued to believe in that hopeful future as “everywhere she looked, Gwendolyn saw more stories that needed to be told. So she kept writing.” This fine biography should ignite readers’ interest in exploring Brooks’s exquisite writing. Ages 6–9. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

**STARRED REVIEW**
"Cabrera’s strong, carefully composed acrylic illustrations beautifully evoke both the joy and the hardship in Brooks’s everyday life and in the life of the community that inspired her. Slade’s attention to detail, vigorous prose, and judicious use of the poet’s own words make this biography, and its subject, stand out."

Horn Book Magazine

"This picture book biography contrasts painterly acrylic images of the child’s ambitious dreams and the vibrant Bronzeville community that inspired much of her work."

BCCB (Bulletin of the Center for Children)

★ 02/01/2020

K-Gr 3—Gwendolyn Brooks (1917–2000) was inspired to write poetry from an early age. When she wasn't dreaming on her back porch, she was filling notebooks with observations about nature and everyday life in her Chicago neighborhood. Themes of racial injustice, hunger, and poverty stood alongside depictions of joy and wonder in her work. Brooks dedicated her life to writing; she won contests, got published, and eventually became the first black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1950. The biography's awestruck, reverent tone is matched by the gorgeous acrylic paintings. Bright palettes of pink, orange, blue, and green evoke the influence of nature in Brooks's work. There is a lovely contrast between the illustrations of lush outdoor sunsets and the beautifully rendered moments that depict her home life. The only thing missing from the text is more excerpts from Brooks's poetry. Shining a spotlight on the poet's own words would have enriched the context of her life story and shown how life can influence art and vice versa. Extensive back matter includes a poem by 15-year-old Brooks titled "Clouds," an author's note, a time line, source notes, and a bibliography. VERDICT A visually remarkable and inspiring introduction to the life of Gwendolyn Brooks. Recommended for purchase in most collections.—Kristy Pasquariello, Westwood Public Library, MA

School Library Journal

2020-01-21
Poet Gwendolyn Brooks’ life is chronicled for young readers.

Growing up with a love for poetry that’s fed by her father’s recitations and her mother’s affirmations (“You are going to be the lady Paul Laurence Dunbar”), young Gwendolyn begins writing as early as 7. Poetry is everything to Gwendolyn, feeding her emotionally during the Great Depression and beyond. She writes by candlelight when the electricity is out and submits poems to publishers all over the country. Eventually they are published, but they don’t earn much—and then one day a phone call delivers joyous news: She is the first black writer to win the Pulitzer Prize! Slade’s uneven rhythms emulate Brooks’ but at times detract from a sense of textual cohesion; a superfluous explanation of the usage of “Black” in the author’s note feels awkward, as if seeking validation. On the other hand, Cabrera’s acrylic paint illustrations perfectly exemplify the title. Attention to detail, like the pink sponge roller in little Gwendolyn’s hair for a delightfully bumped bang and the dreamy bright pinks and blues of early spreads, with clocks and printed pages lining Gwendolyn’s imagination, adds a tangible depth to this story of her triumphs and challenges. Additional backmatter, including Brooks’ poem “Clouds,” a timeline, sources, and select bibliography, provides context and grounding for the airy book.

A joyfully illustrated celebration of Brooks’ good and important work. (Picture book/biography. 7-11)

Kirkus Reviews

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