I loved this cute story representing Harlem. The watercolor photos were vibrant and expressive. As we walked along the Harlem streets with Roy snapping away with his camera, we see the neighborhood come alive. This is a great book for children and adults alike.

Beautiful illustrations appear like photographs as the art of Roy DeVarava. The illustrations are very life-life and engaging.

"SNAP!
Life is how you look at it."

In the late 1940s, Roy DeCarava began photographing scenes of everyday life in his hometown of Harlem. He photographed children on playgrounds, subway riders, and people going about their business on the streets. His pictures captured the truth of life, and the beauty found all around us. His camera "looked for surprises" wherever Roy went.

This is a lovely book, and the watercolor illustrations by E.B. Lewis are simply stunning. The book closes with a brief biography, a timeline, and a bibliography. This would make a wonderful addition to any classroom or library.

The simple text is both enjoyable and instructive, something that isn't always present in picture book biographies. I liked the descriptions of each picture set up, making clear how "every day" and "common" the situations are, and how the photographer finds them beautiful. The illustrations are clear, but feel a bit dreamy, which fits the feeling of narrative.

This book is an enchanting portrayal of Harlem's daily life, magically captured not through the featured photographer's lens, but through the vibrant and muted watercolor paintings that replace expected photographs. The artistic narrative includes meta references, such as a child chalking a picture, who is simultaneously being photographed and painted, blurring the lines between different artistic mediums. The inclusion of a photo of Harlem by an unknown artist adds to the mystery, prompting questions about the unseen photographer's art. Simple yet profound, the text conveys important messages, resonating deeply with both children and adults alike. The muted but bright colors, especially the breathtaking lilac tones, enhance the visual narrative, capturing the neighborhood's chaotic camaraderie in a way that is both beautiful and magical.

I have added this book to my TrueStory Bookshop and recommend it in three categories:
True Stories ~ Photographers
True Stories ~ Artists
True Stories ~ Black History
https://bookshop.org/shop/KarlinGray

This beautiful picture book biography celebrates the work of a Black photographer who captured everyday life in mid-century Harlem. The book shares interesting details about his life and accomplishments as an artist, and the author's note at the end shares even more information, along with some photographs and lists of places to view his work.

I really enjoyed E.B. White's beautiful illustrations, as I always do. I love his style, and it's very well-suited to this story, highlighting the beauty and wonder of ordinary people and their everyday lives. However, regarding the photography theme, I wish that the author had warned somewhere in the book that it's best to ask people's permission before taking photos. During this historic photographer's era, it was far less of a concern to take photojournalistic pictures of strangers, but I wish that the author had acknowledged the different standards we should consider with cell phone cameras and social media.

Nonetheless, I thought this was a wonderful book, and I would highly recommend it to families, libraries, and classrooms. I would also recommend the following books on similar themes:

"Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee!" by Andrea J. Loney
"Dear Yesteryear" by Kimberly Annece Henderson
"Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America" by Carole Boston Weatherford

Engaging text and illustrations introduce the photos Roy DeCarava. Whether is a street scene, children playing outside, or people on the subway, De Carava's keen eye for the beauty everywhere in Harlem is celebrated as readers are encouraged to look more closely. This book is inspiring, informative, and interesting. .