Josephine The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker

Hruby Powell, P. (2014) Josephine The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker. San Francisco, CA Chronicle Books.

This books takes readers through the life of the star Josephine Baker. I will admit I am a little bias with this subject I even named by dog after her. The book starts with her being born poor in St. Louis and moves on to her fame in Europe. She helped her mother wash clothes but was fascinated with the black vaudeville shows. She became part of the act when she joined The Jones Family and then at thirteen became a part of The Dixie Steppers touring with them. She was relegated to being their dresser. They traveled across the racial divided south and Josephine got to see segregation and experience in by performing not being able to visit white only theaters. After The Dixie Steppers stopped touring, she went to New York to be part of the first all-black show on Broadway. However she did get picked to be part of the show. She ended up being a dresser again. Josephine still learned all the dances and waited for an opportunity. When a dancer didn't show up she filled in and stole the show. She went on to dance in other shows but still was upset at the laws in the United States that wouldn't let her eat with white people and made her enter through back doors. Eventually she was invited to go to Paris and be part of La Revue Negre. Josephine found success in Europe charming everyone. She fame brought wealth. She still could not get respect in America. During World War II Josephine helped by joining the Parisian Red Cross and eventually became a spy to help defeat the Nazis. She performed for US soldiers and demanded that the black troops be allowed to sit in the front with the white troops. She married three times and during her third marriage she adopted twelve children from across the world. Showing how strong of a believer she was in in loving all. Raising the large family and extravagant spending led to her becoming broke. Josephine had to begin to tour again. This time she was welcomed in America. She still loss her house and had to depend on the the kindness of some of her friends to help her and her family. She ended up dying after celebrating a return to the Paris stage.

Josephine Baker was born in St. Louis poor and not expected to rise to much. This story is illustrates how her determined nature was the catalyst to her to overcome racism. The book includes direct quotes along with text written in verse. This biography is an easy read aloud for primary grades to understand and it's written in a manner that will keep their attention. I like the change in font between the author's verse and the direct quote. Putting Josephine's words in cursive seems appropriate since she was such a elegant figure. Like all Coretta Scott King Award winners and honorees this is a worthy book to include in a library that strives to be inclusive.

The book was an Illustrator Honor book.  The pictures are rather simple and "elementary" in nature. But it would appeal to younger students. There isn't a lot of other details added to each page.  And if Josephine is the focus of the text then she is the main picture also.  I like this style of drawings. They are sophisticated but still a little goofy just like the real Josephine Baker.