André: André Leon Talley—A Fabulously Fashionable Fairy Tale

Gr 2-4–Weatherford and Sanders have created a beautiful nonfiction book that ­covers a lot of ground. André Leon ­Talley’s story is one that begins with much darkness, but proceeds with much light, as he moved into a career as an American fashion journalist, stylist, creative director, author, and editor-at-large of Vogue magazine. His humble ­beginnings are discussed with care; bullying and abuse at the hands of adults were a part of his ­journey. Talley perseveres through this early pain to become one of the most influential fashion writers of our time. The authors gently discuss the abuse he endured; the topics are ­gracefully covered through the illustrations. O’Neal selects vibrant colors to illustrate ­Talley’s story. Seeped in ­vintage hues, these ­illustrations breathe life and color into the biography. ­Carefully chosen quotes from Talley are a feature of the text. Richness of color ­provides context for the indulgence of the fashion world, which is carefully and artistically rendered. This book is an ­homage to Black excellence. Talley rose to the top of his game in the fashion field, despite great setbacks and trauma. This book is a great tool to talk about abuse and racism, while the end pages offer extra support for anyone ­struggling.