The French embraced her, and France became her home. But it was in Paris that she found her claim to fame. Louis, and following her to New Orleans, Philadelphia, and New York City. The book covers each period of her life, beginning with her childhood poverty in St. As I read the book and noted the vivid acrylic illustrations, I felt as though I could almost see her as she moved across the stage.
This loving tribute to her talents as a dancer and comedian is filled with wonderful details that bring her to life. Like many others, I have long been fascinated with Josephine Baker and saddened that she had to leave the nation of her birth in order to find success. Overall I think this is a wonderful homage to Baker's tour de force career but also her undeniable contributions to the world as a civil rights activists fighting for both women's and African American rights. In 1975 and four days after she starred in a show celebrating 50 years in show business, she was found in her bed and was in a coma until she died on Apat age 68.
In 1964 Josephine Baker lost her castle (yes she actually rented a real medieval castle in France!) due to unpaid debts, eventually she managed a successful career come back. The book doesn't shy way from portraying Baker's life, including her talents and strengths, but also her controversial and complex personality.īaker adopted many children from all over the world which she described as "The Rainbow Tribe". In 1939 when France declared war on Germany, Baker was recruited by the French military intelligence, as an "honorable correspondent".Īfter just finishing the wondrous Brown Girl Dreaming I think it's wonderful to see YA and Children's books teaching these new generations about African American icons and their impact in the world we live today.
The book features wonderful vivid illustrations of Josephine Baker life and career.Īlthough I watched documentaries and at least one biopic movie based on her life, this children's book still taught me a few things I didn't know about the life of this most extraordinary woman (I didn't know for example that during France's occupation in World War II, Baker had volunteered with the Red Cross and later on worked for the French Resistance, at times smuggling messages hidden in her sheet music and even in her underwear). Written in free verse, The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell and illustrated by Christian Robinson is a beautiful little book and a great introduction to the life of the indomitable and glamorous African American-French dancer. Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker
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