Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
James Van Der Zee was just a young boy when he saved enough money to buy his first camera. He took photos of his family, classmates, and anyone who would sit still for a portrait. By the fifth grade, James was the school photographer and unofficial town photographer. Eventually he outgrew his small town and moved to the exciting, fast-paced world of New York City. After being told by his boss that no one would want his or her photo taken by a black man, James opened his own portrait studio in Harlem. He took photographs of legendary figures of the Harlem Renaissance politicians such as Marcus Garvey, performers including Florence Mills, Bill Bojangles Robinson, and Mamie Smith and ordinary folks in the neighborhood too. Everyone wanted fancy portraits by James Van Der Zee. Winner of Lee & Low s New Voices Award, Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee tells the story of a groundbreaking artist who chronicled an important era in Harlem and showed the beauty and pride of its people."
Synopsis
A biography of James Van Der Zee, innovative and celebrated African American photographer of the Harlem Renaissance. James VanDerZee was just a young boy when he saved enough money to buy his first camera. He took photos of his family, classmates, and anyone who would sit still for a portrait. By the fifth grade, James was the school photographer and unofficial town photographer.
Eventually he outgrew his small town and moved to the exciting, fast-paced world of New York City. After being told by his boss that no one would want his or her photo taken by a black man, James opened his own portrait studio in Harlem. He took photographs of legendary figures of the Harlem Renaissance-politicians such as Marcus Garvey, performers including Florence Mills, Bill Bojangles Robinson, and Mamie Smith-and ordinary folks in the neighborhood too. Everyone wanted fancy portraits by James VanDerZee.
Winner of Lee & Low's New Voices Award, Take a Picture of Me, James VanDerZee tells the story of a groundbreaking artist who chronicled an important era in Harlem and showed the beauty and pride of its people.
Synopsis
101 Great Books for Kids
Junior Library Guild Selection
Choices
Eureka Award
NAACP Image Award Nominee
Original Art Show
A biography of James Van Der Zee, innovative and celebrated African American photographer of the Harlem Renaissance.
James VanDerZee was just a young boy when he saved enough money to buy his first camera. He took photos of his family, classmates, and anyone who would sit still for a portrait. By the fifth grade, James was the school photographer and unofficial town photographer.
Eventually he outgrew his small town and moved to the exciting, fast-paced world of New York City. After being told by his boss that no one would want his or her photo taken by a black man, James opened his own portrait studio in Harlem. He took photographs of legendary figures of the Harlem Renaissance-politicians such as Marcus Garvey, performers including Florence Mills, Bill Bojangles Robinson, and Mamie Smith-and ordinary folks in the neighborhood too. Everyone wanted fancy portraits by James VanDerZee.
Winner of Lee & Low's New Voices Award, Take a Picture of Me, James VanDerZee tells the story of a groundbreaking artist who chronicled an important era in Harlem and showed the beauty and pride of its people.
Synopsis
Choices, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Junior Library Guild Selection, Junior Library Guild
NAACP Image Award Nominee, NAACP
A biography of James Van Der Zee, innovative and celebrated African American photographer of the Harlem Renaissance.
James VanDerZee was just a young boy when he saved enough money to buy his first camera. He took photos of his family, classmates, and anyone who would sit still for a portrait. By the fifth grade, James was the school photographer and unofficial town photographer.
Eventually he outgrew his small town and moved to the exciting, fast-paced world of New York City. After being told by his boss that no one would want his or her photo taken by a black man, James opened his own portrait studio in Harlem. He took photographs of legendary figures of the Harlem Renaissance-politicians such as Marcus Garvey, performers including Florence Mills, Bill Bojangles Robinson, and Mamie Smith-and ordinary folks in the neighborhood too. Everyone wanted fancy portraits by James VanDerZee.
Winner of Lee & Low's New Voices Award, Take a Picture of Me, James VanDerZee tells the story of a groundbreaking artist who chronicled an important era in Harlem and showed the beauty and pride of its people.
Synopsis
NAACP Image Awards Nominee - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
A biography of James Van Der Zee, innovative and celebrated African American photographer of the Harlem Renaissance.
James VanDerZee was just a young boy when he saved enough money to buy his first camera. He took photos of his family, classmates, and anyone who would sit still for a portrait. By the fifth grade, James was the school photographer and unofficial town photographer.
Eventually he outgrew his small town and moved to the exciting, fast-paced world of New York City. After being told by his boss that no one would want his or her photo taken "by a black man," James opened his own portrait studio in Harlem. He took photographs of legendary figures of the Harlem Renaissance-politicians such as Marcus Garvey, performers including Florence Mills, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and Mamie Smith-and ordinary folks in the neighborhood too. Everyone wanted fancy portraits by James VanDerZee.
Winner of Lee & Low's New Voices Award, Take a Picture of Me, James VanDerZee tells the story of a groundbreaking artist who chronicled an important era in Harlem and showed the beauty and pride of its people.