ReaditDaddy's Picture Book of the Week - Week Ending 18th October 2019: "A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks" by Alice Faye Duncan and Xia Gordon (Sterling Children's Books)

Imagine all the places words have taken you in your lifetime. If you're an avid reader, you know instinctively that somewhere out there in the world are avid writers who are anxious to tell you their story, in their own words, in their own style.

In "A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks" by Alice Faye Duncan and Xia Gorgon, a little girl grows up in the south side of Chicago, not quite knowing that her stories will one day hold the world in thrall - but knowing that she truly loves writing, and feels that she has a voice that is strong, funny, and perhaps could just change the world's views.

Gwendolyn began to write poetry from an early age, always encouraged by her parents in her creative pursuits (so how could we not love a book that celebrates that very thing we wish more parents would do when they have creative kids).

Gwendolyn Brooks realised her dream, and became a hugely well respected and well loved writer of stories and poetry.

She ultimately published 20 books of poetry, two autobiographies, and one novel, and was the first black author to win the Pulitzer Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in writing.

Beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated, it will absolutely draw you in, this one!

Following Gwendolyn's lead, Alice Faye Duncan has put together a gently lilting and lyrical story of Gwendolyn's life, and the important moments that shaped her as a world-renowned talent.

Even from an early age, Gwendolyn's creative mind was constantly racing

Sum this book up in a sentence: A gorgeous biographical picture book of one of America's most talented black writers, brought to stunning life by a fabulously creative duo.

"A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks" by Alice Faye Duncan and Xia Gordon is out now, published by Sterling Children's Books (kindly supplied for review).