Description

About the Author

Kadir Nelson is the talented author and illustrator of numerous award-winning picture books, including Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford, and Coretta Scott by Ntozake Shange. Known for the emotion his art conveys, Nelson says: "My work is all about healing and giving people a sense of hope and nobility. I want to show the strength and integrity of the human being and the human spirit." He lives in San Diego, California.

Praise for Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans…

As in WE ARE THE SHIP, Nelson knits together the nation’s proudest moments with its most shameful, taking on the whole of African-American history. He handles this vast subject with easy grace. [Nelson’s] jaw-dropping portraits radiate determination and strength. A tremendous achievement.
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The dramatic oil paintings heighten the dignity of this story, whether they are of well-known historical figures, common folk or landscape…This intimate narrative makes the stories accessible to young readers and powerfully conveys how personal this history feels for many African-Americans.
-Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Nelson…adds to his notable titles with this powerful view of African American history. Illustrated with 44 full-page paintings, this handsome volume is told in the fictionalized, informal voice of an African American senior looking back on her life and remembering what her elders told her.
-Booklist (starred review)

Provocative and powerful, this book offers a much-needed perspective for individuals of all ages seeking to understand America’s past and present.
-School Library Journal (starred review)

Nelson effectively creates a voice that is at once singular and representative. A tour de force in the career of an author/artist who continues to outdo himself.
-Horn Book (starred review)