Wake Up Our Souls: A Celebration of African American Artists - Hardcover

Tonya Bolden has written more than 15 books for children and adults, including Tell All the Children Our Story: Memories and Mementos of Being Young and Black in America, which received starred reviews in School Library Journal, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly. She lives in New York.

Grade 6 Up–The unique place of African-American art in our culture is celebrated in this brightly designed volume, produced in conjunction with the Smithsonian's American Art Museum. Bolden's writing is rich and lyrical. She smoothly incorporates the historical context, explaining pivotal events and relevant artistic movements clearly and succinctly. One notable example is her discussion of the civil rights movement and the formation of Spiral, a group whose members debated the role of their art in the movement, resulting in the 1965 exhibition, Works in Black and White. All of the art is from the museum's collection. The reproductions are of top quality, but in a few instances, a major work of an artist is discussed but not pictured. Also, occasional sidebars or inserts, which feature lengthy biographical sketches and discussions of the artists' work, sometimes interrupt the flow of the text. A glossary of artistic terms, source notes for the original quotes used, and an index complete this welcome addition to art history collections.–Robin L. Gibson, formerly at Perry County District Library, New Lexington, OH
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