The Blue Velvet Chair

by Rio Cortez, Aaron Marin (Illustrator)

Overview

A young girl looks out on the world from her favorite chair in this “quiet meditation on the sweet delight of simply observing the changing world” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) by award-winning poet and New York Times bestselling author Rio Cortez.

In the morning, a young child opens her eyes, and, after one biiiiig streeeeetch, heads straight for her favorite place in the house: the blue velvet chair. Perched from the chair set by the living room window, the child daydreams about each season of the year and the changes that come with them. A now-snowy roof was once pelted by the slick rain of spring showers. Icy windows will once again transform into conveyors of sunshine and warmth against her skin.

And just as the seasons change, the child will continue to change too. But one thing will always remain the same: the coziness of the blue velvet chair.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665912594
Publisher:	Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	08/19/2025
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Rio Cortez is the New York Times bestselling author of picture book The ABCs of Black History and adult poetry collection Golden Ax, which was longlisted for the 2022 National Book Award in poetry and the PEN Open Book Award. Born and raised in Salt Lake City, she now lives, writes, and works in Harlem, New York.

Aaron Marin has worn many hats in the past, holding positions as an officer in the Navy, a classically trained chef, and a summer camp baker. More recently, he returned to his childhood passion of illustration and now works as an illustrator and editorial artist in upstate New York. When not doodling new ideas, he likes to read a good book in a big comfy chair. See more of his work at Aaron-Marin.com.

Editorial Reviews

"A quiet meditation on the sweet delight of simply observing the changing world."

Kirkus Reviews

"A gentle look at constant change narrated from a comfortingly anchored place."

Publishers Weekly

"The book hits the perfect note of familiarity and wonder... Viewers will delight in the little girl’s perspective and pointing out what they see, making for a perfect lapsit in a comfy chair with their own grown-up."

BCCB

★ 2025-05-03
A favorite chair and a window help a youngster make sense of the passing of time.

The mother and child at the center of this tale have many ways to keep track of time, from the ticking of the clock to the pencil marks on the wall noting the youngster’s height. But best of all is the window that opens out onto a view of multicolored buildings and a garden. Each morning, the pajama-clad youngster climbs onto a blue velvet armchair and gazes out; it’s the perfect vantage point for a small person to observe the shifting seasons. A flower drawn on the glass in a condensation of breath is a sign that winter’s here. In warmer months, a cat cleans itself on a nearby rooftop, while people dance. Blossoms appear on the trees in spring; bright leaves fall in autumn. Cortez and Marin deftly marry potent visuals (the window framing the world outside) with tactile sensations such as the warmth of the window glass in summer. Marin’s illustrations rely on a marvelous palette of deliciously rendered colors, evoking a comfortable tenderness between mother and child. Sky, clouds, blossoms, leaves, light, cozy living room, kitchen, and the soft-looking chair convey a sense of peace and safety; in this loving home, the passage of time is noted and celebrated. The characters present Black.

A quiet meditation on the sweet delight of simply observing the changing world.(Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews