A Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book and Robert F. Sibert Informational Honor Book, Exquisite celebrates the life, words, and enduring legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks, the groundbreaking poet who became the first Black person to win the Pulitzer Prize.
From the moment she was a child scribbling poems in a notebook, Gwendolyn Brooks found inspiration in the people and experiences around her. She wrote about family, friendship, hope, hardship, and the everyday moments that make up real life, transforming ordinary experiences into extraordinary poetry.
Award-winning author Suzanne Slade traces Brooks's remarkable journey from a young girl with a dream to one of America's most celebrated poets. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and a changing nation, this lyrical picture-book biography introduces young readers to a trailblazing literary voice whose work explored race, community, resilience, and the beauty of everyday life.
Brought vividly to life through the stunning acrylic artwork of Cozbi A. Cabrera, Exquisite is an inspiring introduction to a literary pioneer whose courage, creativity, and determination continue to encourage readers of all ages to find their own voice and tell their own stories.
Praise
**STARRED REVIEW**School Library Journal
"The biography’s awestruck, reverent tone is matched by the gorgeous acrylic paintings. . . A visually remarkable and inspiring introduction to the life of Gwendolyn Brooks."
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"Cabrera's acrylic paint illustrations perfectly exemplify the title. . . A joyfully illustrated celebration of Brooks' good and important work."Kirkus
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**STARRED REVIEW**Horn Book Magazine
"Cabrera’s strong, carefully composed acrylic illustrations beautifully evoke both the joy and the hardship in Brooks’s everyday life and in the life of the community that inspired her. Slade’s attention to detail, vigorous prose, and judicious use of the poet’s own words make this biography, and its subject, stand out."
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"This fine biography should ignite readers’ interest in exploring Brooks’s exquisite writing."Publishers Weekly
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