Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee!

 By Andrea J. Loney, Illustrated by Keith Mallett

A biography of James Van Der Zee, innovative and celebrated African American photographer of the Harlem Renaissance.

James VanDerZee was just a young boy when he saved enough money to buy his first camera. He took photos of his family, classmates, and anyone who would sit still for a portrait. By the fifth grade, James was the school photographer and unofficial town photographer.

Eventually he outgrew his small town and moved to the exciting, fast-paced world of New York City. After being told by his boss that no one would want his or her photo taken “by a black man,” James opened his own portrait studio in Harlem. He took photographs of legendary figures of the Harlem Renaissance-politicians such as Marcus Garvey, performers including Florence Mills, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, and Mamie Smith-and ordinary folks in the neighborhood too. Everyone wanted fancy portraits by James VanDerZee.

Hardcover / 10.5 × 9 in / 40 pages / ages 7 to 11