Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas by Jeanne Walker Harvey, Loveis Wise
Published by HarperCollins on February 22, 2022
ISBN: 0063021897
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
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The picture book memoir about the artist Alma Thomas is also a story about segregation and perseverance. Alma was born in Georgia and was not allowed to attend the white school in her neighborhood. Her family bought books and invited teachers to their homes to help educate their children. Alma loved to learn but she also loved to be outside and her artwork reflects the colors of the natural world. Thomas grew up to be an educator and did not work on her own art until she was 70 and became the first African-American woman to have a solo show at The Whitney Museum of American Art and to have her work become part of the White House Collection. The illustrations in this book reflect the style of Thomas and many of her works are recreated for readers to see. With words from President Obama, an Author’s and Illustrator’s Note, a timeline, and source notes, this book is a wealth of information for readers of all ages. This book should be part of any library’s picture book biography collection and would make for a fabulous resource and display for Women’s History Month and Black History Month.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Andersen, Dyer Elementary School