The Legendary Miss Lena Horne

Weatherford (Freedom in Congo Square) and Zunon (Don’t Call Me Grandma) vibrantly capture the setbacks and triumphs of African-American performer Lena Horne, tracing her rise from a Brooklyn childhood to a singer and actress who faced persistent racism. Quotations from Horne and others provide sharp insight into her struggles (“They don’t give us a chance very often, and when they do, we have to take it,” Count Basie told her), and Zunon’s warm-hued, multi-textured oil-and-collage images emphasize the determination of a woman who found her voice on stage as singer, actor, and activist. Ages 4–8. [em]Author’s agent: Rubin Pfeffer, Rubin Pfeffer Content. Illustrator’s agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Jan.) [/em]