Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas

Meet an incredible woman who broke down barriers throughout her whole life andis 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 Colorincludes extensive backmatter with photos, an authors and illustrators note, a timeline, and a list of sources and resources, which will be a great tool for parents, educators, and librarians. Perfect for Womens History Month and Black History Month units alongside such favorites asMalala’s Magic Pencil,Hidden Figures,andMae Among the Stars.

Jeanne Walker Harvey is a long-time docent for school groups at the San Francisco Museum of Art, home of one of Almas most famous paintings, Cumulus, so this is a subject matter shes extremely passionate about. She is also the author of the acclaimed Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines. Loveis Wise illustrated Ibi Zobois picture book debut,The People Remember. Outside the book world, they are known for theirNew Yorkermagazine covers and their Google Doodle for Black History Month, among other projects. In this book, their work layers textures and patterns seamlessly and uses bold, vibrant colors to bring Almas story to life in a perfect homage to Alma Thomass colorful, abstract artwork.