Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas Awareness Tour sponsored by Jeanne Walker Harvey
The Children’s Book Review

Join us on this virtual book tour for Jeanne Walker Harvey’s Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas (Available February 22, 2022)—a picture book perfect for Women’s History Month and Black History Month.

In this stunning celebration of art and imagination, Jeanne Walker Harvey and Loveis Wise tell the incredible and inspiring true story of Alma Thomas, the first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum in New York City and the first Black woman to have her work chosen for the White House collection.

The text achieves a fine balance of evocative lyricism and straightforward exposition. Wise’s vibrant, eye-catching illustrations contain echoes of Thomas’ signature abstract style, with its colorful mosaic-like patterns and tessellated brush strokes. Uplifting with hope and ablaze with joyous colors!

Kirkus Reviews

To learn more, follow along on the virtual book tour and enter the giveaway below for the chance to one of three class sets of Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas! Be sure to download the gorgeous and Educators’ Guide and Activity Kit, too—you’ll find them both below.

Ablaze with Color Tour Dates

Ablaze with Color Book Giveaway

Ablaze with Color: Book Giveaway

How to Enter

• Fill out the required fields in the form above. It may take a moment to load.
• You can also gain daily bonus entries.
• The giveaway begins January 15, 2021, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends February 15, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
• The Giveaway is only open to legal residents of the United States and is void where prohibited by law.
• Full Terms & Conditions above.

About the Book

Written by Jeanne Walker Harvey

Illustrated by Loveis Wise

Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages

Publisher: HarperCollins | ISBN-13: 9780063021891

Publisher’s Synopsis: Celebrate the life-changing power of art in this inspiring and stunningly illustrated picture book biography of American artist Alma Thomas.

Meet an incredible woman who broke down barriers throughout her whole life and is now known as one of the most preeminent painters of the 20th century. Told from the point of view of young Alma Thomas, readers can follow along as she grows into her discovery of the life-changing power of art.

As a child in Georgia, Alma Thomas loved to spend time outside, soaking up the colors around her. And her parents filled their home with color and creativity despite the racial injustices they faced. After the family moved to Washington DC, Alma shared her passion for art by teaching children. When she was almost seventy years old, she focused on her own artwork, inspired by nature and space travel.

In this celebration of art and the power of imagination, Jeanne Walker Harvey and Loveis Wise tell the incredible true story of Alma Thomas, the first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum in New York City and to have her work chosen for the White House collection. With her bold and vibrant abstract paintings, Alma set the world ablaze with color.

Ablaze with Color includes extensive backmatter with photos, an author’s and illustrator’s note, a timeline, and a list of sources and resources, which will be a great tool for parents, educators, and librarians. Perfect for Women’s History Month and Black History Month units alongside such favorites as Malala’s Magic Pencil, Hidden Figures, and Mae Among the Stars.

Buy the Book

About the Author

Jeanne Walker Harvey has been a longtime docent at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Just like Alma Thomas, Jeanne believes that art brings us joy. Her other picture books include Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines and My Hands Sing the Blues: Romare Bearden’s Childhood Journey. Jeanne studied literature and psychology at Stanford University. She lives in Northern California.

Visit her online at www.jeanneharvey.com.

About the Illustrator

Loveis Wise is an illustrator and designer from Washington, DC. They are currently based in Los Angeles and their work often speaks to themes of joy and liberation. Their work can be found through the New Yorker, Google, Adobe, and the New York Times.

You can find them online at www.loveiswise.com.

Thanks for following along with us on the Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas awareness tour!