Summary
Alma was a painter. When she was young, she made clay pots to paint. Her family was also creative. She missed out on going to the library, museums, or nearby schools due to segregation. Alma’s parents created a library and brought people in to talk so their children could learn about the world. They moved north which allowed Alma to go to school and teach art. Alma painted her own works starting at seventy years old. Some of her work was put in multiple famous museums and the White House.
Theme(s):
Family, Art, Inclusivity
Personal Response
I enjoyed reading this story and find it inspirational for aspiring artists. It showed that everyone can create art and art can be inspired by anything. I liked that the story focused on the colors and details that inspired her work, particularly from nature. I appreciated that the book included her life growing up because the audience got to watch the progression of her life from having restricted access to learning and culture to eventually having work displayed in museums and the White House.
Teaching Ideas
Some younger students have a hard time deciding what to draw or write. After reading this book, a teacher could take students outside and have them closely observe nature. They could create a piece of art or writing inspired by what they observed. This could also go along with the seasons unit in the Fall. Students could paint, draw or color different leaves that they picked from outside. Students could also group and graph their leaves based on different attributes such as size, shape or color.
Recommended Reading Level
Birth-PreK, Grade 01, Grade 02
