Magnolia Flower

"[A] powerful example of Black and Native resistancean aspect of history that far too often goes undiscussed. Wises earth-toned, opalescent illustrations make the trees, water, and flowers feel just as key to the tale as the humans. The excellent marriage between lyrical text and stunning visuals makes for a moving, memorable story. An artfully rendered tale of life and love that also conveys an essential but often overlooked chapter in U.S. history." Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Digital illustrations from Wise (The People Remember) make for a bountiful, nature-centered accompaniment to this romance set against the changing landscape of freedom for Black and Indigenous peoples. Publishers Weekly (starred review) Freedom forges a path to love. Kendi uses poetic and accessible prose to restate Hurston's historical truths. [Wises] gentle digital illustrations have a vivaciousness that reinforces the depth of Hurston's characters as well as the vastness of the world encompassing them. Shelf Awareness (starred review) I hope that the luminous spirit of the GREAT Zora Neale Hurston is forever shining down on Loveis and Ibram for their most gracious retelling of this sweet yet powerful folktale; a declaration of love. Derrick Barnes, Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Honor, NY Times Bestseller, Ezra Jack Keats Award and the two-time Kirkus Prize winner Digital illustrations are a real complement to the story, creating a lush landscape filled with beautifully drawn flora. Bright pinks, yellows, and aqua blues fill each page and are a perfect accompaniment for lyrical text. School Library Journal [A] pleasing introduction to Hurston's oeuvre. Booklist Kendi adapted this 1925 short story about Afro-Indigenous love and resistance into a picture book so children wouldnt have to wait to absorb Hurstons rich folkloric tales. New York Times Book Review [A] true launchpad for recentering the narrative of U.S. history, honoring Zora Neale Hurston and her legacy, and building cultural awareness and sensitivity. (5 STARS!) Common Sense Media Both the lyrical text and the flowing digital illustrations let the theme of love running through Hurstons stories shine. Horn Book Magazine

Zora Neale Hurston wrote four novels (Jonahs Gourd Vine; Their Eyes Were Watching God; Moses, Man of the Mountains; and Seraph on the Suwanee) and was still working on her fifth novel, The Life of Herod the Great, when she died; three books of folklore (Mules and Men and the posthumously published Go Gator and Muddy the Water and Every Tongue Got to Confess); a work of anthropological research (Tell My Horse); an autobiography (Dust Tracks on a Road); an international bestselling ethnographic work (Barracoon); and over fifty short stories, essays, and plays. She was born in Notasulga, Alabama, grew up in Eatonville, Florida, and lived her last years in Fort Pierce, Florida. Loveis Wise is an illustrator and designer from Washington, DC. They are currently based in Los Angeles, and their work often speaks to themes of joy and liberation. Loveis has illustrated two books: The People Remember and Ablaze with Color. More of their work can be found through the New Yorker, Google, Adobe, and the New York Times. Ibram X. Kendi is a National Book Awardwinning and #1 New York Times bestselling author. His books include Antiracist Baby; Goodnight Racism; How to Be an Antiracist; and How to Raise an Antiracist. Kendi is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University and the director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research. In 2020, Time magazine named Kendi one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He has also been awarded a 2021 MacArthur Fellowship.