A Year of Black Joy: 52 Black Voices Share Their Life Passions

by Jamia Wilson, Jade Orlando

Overview

An uplifting and empowering illustrated anthology of joyful contributions from 52 contemporary Black voices, including chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley, scientist Dr. Raven the Science Maven, and award-winning author Patrice Lawrence.

Curated by award-winning author Jamia Wilson, A Year of Black Joy celebrates the joy, talent, and contributions of 52 Black people from around the world. By sharing the many layers and dimensions of Black life and contributions that exist outside of trauma, readers of all backgrounds will be empowered to share their joy too. Each contributor is an expert in their own field, and the book covers a multitude of topics, from astrology and astronomy to beekeeping and baking.

The collection includes an entry for every week of the year, and each contribution is tied to a particular season, event, or celebration. An illustrated, nonfiction component to each entry—such as a guide to healing plants or a tour of the night sky—lets readers dive further into the activity. Presented in a beautiful hardcover format and featuring stunning full-color illustrations from Jade Orlando, AYear of Black Joy is a book to be treasured for years to come.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419767784
Publisher:	Magic Cat
Publication date:	10/10/2023
Series:	Year of Joy
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	290,423
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jamia Wilson is a feminist, activist, writer, and speaker based in New York City. Her work has appeared in numerous outlets, including the New York Times, the Today show, CNN, Elle, BBC, Rookie, Refinery29, Glamour, Teen Vogue, and the Washington Post. She is the author of This Book Is Feminist; Young, Gifted and Black; Step into Your Power; Big Ideas for Young Thinkers; and the ABC’s of AOC.

Editorial Reviews

***STARRED REVIEW***
"[B]right palette and energetic visuals...passionate, upbeat writing. This compendium is perfect for parents and educators looking for fun ways to ignite the imagination, recognize Black achievements, and spotlight lesser-known holidays. An inspiring source of creativity for all readers."—Kirkus

From the Publisher

★ 2023-09-09
An exploration of Black joy through the eyes of a myriad of changemakers from around the world.

Organized by month, the book pairs relevant holidays with entries from Black comedians, athletes, activists, musicians, and others. The contributors discuss what’s inspired them along the way and offer opportunities for readers to engage with these topics. For International Day of Choreography, artistic director Davalois Fearon describes how her love of dance helps her connect to her ancestors, while for Mother Language Day, linguist John McWhorter reminisces about the first time he heard a language other than English; for the Autumn Equinox, chef Andi Oliver includes a recipe for spiced squash and caramelized red onion skirlie. Readers also get glimpses into a variety of other passions, including wheelchair racing, beekeeping, and chess. Although the page spreads are busy, text and illustrations complement each other effectively; the bright palette and energetic visuals are a strong match for the passionate, upbeat writing. The information is clearly conveyed. Young people will be inspired to seek out their own passions. Throughout, themes such as forging connection, learning to appreciate the world, and realizing that nothing is too minor to be celebrated come through clearly. This compendium is perfect for parents and educators looking for fun ways to ignite the imagination, recognize Black achievements, and spotlight lesser-known holidays.

An inspiring source of creativity for all readers. (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews