Descriptions, Reviews, etc.
Description:
"Exquisitely deep in vogue." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Kicking off a picture book series of LGBTQ+ biographies is this inspiring story of the incomparable dancer Willi Ninja, Grandfather of Vogue and star of the film
Paris Is Burning. When little Willi Leake watched karate movies with his mother in their cozy Queens apartment, he'd slice the air with his arms like swords. He'd swish his hips like the models he saw in magazines and copy ancient pharaohs' poses from Egyptian hieroglyphs. Bursting with energy, Willi would strut his way down the street, and his mother would tell him not to mind the puzzled looks he'd get. When she took him to the Apollo Theater to watch ballerinas twirling, Willi allowed himself to dream--and the more he dreamed, the more he danced. With an accessible text and dynamic illustrations, Joy Michael Ellison and Nabi H. Ali trace Willi's path against the odds as he brings his signature moves to the dance style known as vogue and finds his spotlight at the Harlem drag balls where a performer known as Willi Ninja is born. Providing context, community, and comprehension of queer and trans culture for young history buffs, the lively narrative is followed by back matter delving into more details about Willi Ninja and what life was like during his time.
Review Quotes: Ellison's portrait of an exuberant legend flutters with breathless enthusiasm. . . . Ali's rainbow-colored artwork accentuates Willi's distinct contributions to vogue and dance in a series of fabulous poses and moves that positively leap off the page. . . . Exquisitely deep in vogue.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Multi-textured digital animations energetically blend styles of both simplistic sketch and detailed portraiture, with strategic framing used to produce a 3D effect.
--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)
Via affirming text and radiant, dynamic illustrations, the creators conjure the spirit of one icon's contributions.
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Ellison's strong biography features narrative text that carries readers through Ninja's life up to his first ball, supplemented by expressive, colorful digital illustrations full of movement and color--an appropriate reflection of the subject's life. This strong choice for LGBTQ+ history story times has more details about Willi Ninja's experiences in the back matter, which will likely prompt further conversations about LGBTQ+ experiences.
--Booklist
