Poem by Maya Angelou with paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Shadows on the wall…Noises down the hall…Life doesn’t frighten me at all…
Maya Angelou’s brave, defiant poem celebrates the courage within each of us, young and old. From the scary thought of panthers in the park to the unsettling scene of a new classroom, fearsome images are summoned and dispelled by the power of faith in ourselves.
Angelou’s strong words are matched by the daring vision of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose childlike style reveals the powerful emotions and fanciful imaginings of childhood. Together, Angelou’s words and Basquiat’s paintings create a place where every child, indeed every person, may experience his or her own fearlessness.
Celebrating its successful 25 years in print, this brilliant introduction to poetry and contemporary art features brief, updated biographies of Angelou and Basquiat, an afterword from the editor, and a fresh new look. A selected bibliography of Angelou’s books and a selected museum listing of Basquiat’s works open the door to further inspiration through the fine arts.
Age Range: 4 years and up
Hardcover with jacket, 32 pages
Dimensions: 8 3/4 x 10 1/2 x 3/8 inches
Reviews:
"Presented as an impassioned ode to courage, the late poet Dr. Maya Angelou's 1993 poem returns in a handsome 25th-anniversary edition to inspire a new generation of brave readers." — Shelf Awareness
"A unique book that combines the words of a renowned African-American poet laureate and the primitive, modern paintings of a young Haitian-American artist. . . A powerful exploration of emotion and its expression through the careful blend of words and art." — School Library Journal
"Both a handsome art book and a rhythmic read-aloud, this is great for sharing with audiences of many ages." — Booklist
Edited by Sara Jane Boyers
