Back to when the great men of Shange’s childhood weren’t mere remembrances, but were living, breathing, creating, pioneering people. (By the way, did you guys know Kadir Nelson created Michael Jackson’s posthumously released album cover?) The way she is an observer as well as a part of something bigger. No matter what’s pictured, it’s the little girl in the blue dress we look for. The art in this book is by Kadir Nelson, who is a painter’s painter, a master of beautiful realism that draws you in. And Duke Ellington was one of the many influential men who gathered at Shange’s house when she was a child. Which leads us to its title: Ellington Was Not a Street. In the same way, this picture book circles back to the past and brings it forward again. The words of this book are taken from Ntozake Shange‘s 1983 poem, “ Mood Indigo.” And that title is taken from Duke Ellington’s famous song. Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (2004).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |