And She Was Loved: Toni Morrison’s Life in Stories
by Andrea Davis Pinkney; illus. by Daniel Minter
Primary, Intermediate    Little, Brown    48 pp.
1/25    9780316182362    $18.99

Toni Morrison (1931–2019), a gifted student, was the only Black girl in her Lorain, Ohio, first-grade class. She grew up to be a trailblazing book editor and a Pulitzer– and Nobel Prize–winning author who stands as a giant in the pantheon of literary greats, all while navigating the world as a Black woman. Pinkney honors her legacy with a sophisticated narrative ode in verse. Weaving biographical moments together with exaltation and admiration (“Oh, Toni Morrison, / you liberate all of us. / You—let us breathe”), Pinkney conveys not only a life dedicated to the artistry of the written word but also the woman behind the pen. Minter, who uses mixed media that includes hand-painting, acrylic, and digital techniques, says in an appended note that he framed the work as a “praise poem.” The art is awash in saturated tones and bold, almost oversized renderings of Morrison that become transcendent with the intricate white lines that are meticulously included on every page. Each spread is full of beauty, depth, and movement honoring one whose life’s work amounts to a love letter to Black people. Back matter includes statements from the author and artist, biographical timelines, and a list of Morrison’s selected works. Pair with Weatherford and Thompson's A Crown of Stories: The Life and Language of Beloved Writer Toni Morrison (rev. 5/24).

From the March/April 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.