Willi Ninja: Vogue Legend (Rainbow History)

In a stunning, celebratory biography of dancer and choreographer Willi Ninja (1961–2006), known as the Grandfather of Vogue, Ellison and Ali follow him from his beginnings as a Queens child whose “wonderful imagination electrified his body.” With his mother’s encouragement and regular visits to the Apollo Theater, Ninja begins to consider his future, and “the more he dreamed, the more he danced.” The protagonist eventually joins a group of gay dancers in the park, where he learns about ball culture and vogue. Hyperrealistic, energy-filled digital paintings showcase Ninja against contextualizing backdrops—in one spread, a proscenium stage is set within a young daydreaming Ninja’s mind. Via affirming text and radiant, dynamic illustrations, the creators conjure the spirit of one icon’s contributions. Characters are intersectionally diverse. Back matter offers more information. Ages 6–9. (May)