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Extraordinary Magic: The Storytelling Life of Virginia Hamilton
This lyrical picture book biography tells the story of one of America’s most celebrated children’s book authors, Virginia Hamilton, the first African American to win the Newbery Medal, and is perfect for fans of Planting The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré .
Virginia was free.
To be a dreamer.
To be a wanderer.
To be her own unique self.
Free to be.
Virginia Hamilton was only nine years old when she decided she would become a writer. Growing up in the countryside of Ohio, she listened to her family’s stories and knew that words held extraordinary magic. From her childhood years discovering her love for storytelling, to her early adult life honing her craft in the city, Virginia found her voice in her writing as she began a career defined by her roots.
Through interconnected poems, this moving biography celebrates the remarkable life of the highly decorated and much beloved Virginia Hamilton. It’s a stunning tribute to a girl who dared to dream—and inspired those after her to do the same.
Virginia was free.
To be a dreamer.
To be a wanderer.
To be her own unique self.
Free to be.
Virginia Hamilton was only nine years old when she decided she would become a writer. Growing up in the countryside of Ohio, she listened to her family’s stories and knew that words held extraordinary magic. From her childhood years discovering her love for storytelling, to her early adult life honing her craft in the city, Virginia found her voice in her writing as she began a career defined by her roots.
Through interconnected poems, this moving biography celebrates the remarkable life of the highly decorated and much beloved Virginia Hamilton. It’s a stunning tribute to a girl who dared to dream—and inspired those after her to do the same.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published January 9, 2024
About the author
Nina Crews
26 books12 followersNina Crews is a well known author and an illustrator children's books. She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 23, 2024
I feel a little out of touch with the children's biography scene the past few years, as I'm not reading as many of them as I used to when I was on a biography award committee. But I am so glad I found this one, because I have a strong affection for Virginia Hamilton, her work, and all of the friends I've made through the longstanding conference in her name at Kent State University. This is a beautiful picture book about Virginia's childhood, told in charming free verse poems and gorgeously illustrated. It definitely does justice to this author, a national treasure. Includes a bibliography of Hamilton's works, a timeline of her life, and brief fuller biography.
October 1, 2024
A beautiful tribute and biography to the writing ambitions and successes of the distinguished author, Virginia Hamilton. Written in lyrical, interconnected poems, readers follow her story from the moment she realized her imagination helped her conquer a bad dream. From that point on, she wrote stories that helped young readers understand and relate to “a complicated world.” An inspirational story, great for the classroom or home library.
February 2, 2024
An effective picture book biography of legendary Black children's author Virginia Hamilton, written in verse and with lovely accompanying illustrations by the author. Would be wonderful used in a classroom accompanying the reading of one of Hamilton's books.
Themes: Writing, Black History, Civil Rights, Growing Up
Age range: Elementary
Themes: Writing, Black History, Civil Rights, Growing Up
Age range: Elementary
February 4, 2024
A series of poems serve as a biography of Virginia Hamilton -- one of the most significant authors of books children. The free-verse poems catch the feeling of Virginia's life growing up on a farm before moving to the city to find success -- and then returning home. Digitally rendered illustrations imitate cut paper collage. A tribute to Virginia Hamilton and an invitation for future creatives.
February 5, 2024
This wasn't my favorite. I liked learning more about Virginia Hamilton, but the poems in this felt disjointed. I wouldn't go into this expecting a perfectly linear story about her life. The backmatter information is really helpful in understanding Nina Crews' intent with the book as well as more about Virginia Hamilton's life.
February 26, 2024
A picture book introduction to Virginia Hamilton. This book is scant free verse poems looking at moments of Hamilton's life. It doesn't really gel as a biography unless you include the material that comes after the poems.
I like the art - I like some of the poems. An OK book that I'm glad to have read.
I like the art - I like some of the poems. An OK book that I'm glad to have read.
March 12, 2024
An engaging picture book biography of award-winning author Virgina Hamilton. Written as poetry to highlight her life. This book has made me want to go back and re-read some of her books-- M.C. Higgins or Bluish. Sadly, my readers don't choose those books any more, so would have little connection to this terrific story.
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February 17, 2024I really liked the poem aspect of this book. It felt cohesive. I didn't know she had received so many great honors in her life. I mean, she's got an award half named after her, so hopefully she did, but it was interesting to find out more about her.
March 23, 2024
Of interest to Ohio readers as well as anyone in the youth literature sphere, this poetic bio of Virginia Hamilton mostly focuses on her childhood in rural Yellow Springs, OH which contributed to her imaginative and inspiring life as a writer.
October 6, 2024
A children's poetry book about one of the first black writers for children. I loved it, and it is different from other things we read. But I don't know if the format will work for everyone or is age appropriate. It isn't rhyming poetry, which is really accessible to young children.
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February 29, 2024This is a picture book in verse!
Love it! For young people who might
love to write and anyone else interested
in the story of Virginia Hamilton.
Delightful!
Love it! For young people who might
love to write and anyone else interested
in the story of Virginia Hamilton.
Delightful!
September 19, 2024
Good back matter. Written in stanzas.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews