Revolutionary Poet: A Story about Phillis Wheatley (Creative Minds Biographies) - Softcover

Weidt, Maryann N.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1575050595 ISBN 13: 9781575050591

Publisher: LernerClassroom, 1997

Synopsis

Taken from her family in Africa at the age of seven, Phillis Wheatley arrived in Boston as a slave in 1761. After she was purchased by the Wheatley family, Phillis quickly learned to speak and read English. The bright young girl soon began writing poetry. By 1771, her poems had been published in newspapers all over the colonies, and critics were praising the "extraordinary negro poetess." In this engaging biography, author Maryann Weidt tells the story of how a young slave girl in revolutionary Boston became an internationally famous poet and the first black American to publish a book.

About this title

About the Author:

I grew up on a farm near Hutchinson, Minnesota. I can't say I always wanted to be a writer. But I did always love books. In the winter, my mother had to force me to go outside and play. I wanted to stay inside and read. Hey, it was COLD outside. In the summer, I would play on the swings or in the haymow with my friend, Jackie Bonniwell. But most of the time, I'd lie on a blanket under the oak tree in the front yard and read.

My favorite books were the Betsy Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. (Look for them in your bookstore or library. They're available in paperback, too.)

I liked the Betsy Tacy books because they were about three friends—Betsy, Tacy, and Tib—and all they fun they had together.

I had two best friends in grade school. Their names were Sharon and Elaine. They're both still my friends. Sharon and I would play paper dolls and make up stories for hours. And we would put on shows where we would sing and dance for our parents. I directed the shows. Sharon says I never let her sing. That was because she couldn't sing. Elaine and I rode our bikes up and down the gravel road in front of her house. Our favorite pastime was following her older brother around and calling him names. Our second favorite thing was to hide from her younger brother.

Now I have many friends who are children's authors like me. Or I have friends who like to read books. If you want to be my friend, you'd better enjoy books.

I truly believe I have the most wonderful job in the world. 

I began drawing at a very early age and I always experienced great joy in being creative. Much of my childhood I spent stretched out on the floor daydreaming and drawing whatever came to my mind. 

A desire to improve my drawing and painting has always been important to me. I was determined to be able to render human faces and my brothers and sisters often called my drawings "Monkey People" It is interesting that now I illustrate new Curious George books! 

When I was very young I loved the pictures in my books and I began to make books from my own stories and drew pictures to illustrate them. I still have a few of those little books! 

I received a BFA from Parsons School of Design in New York City. I learned so much there - about drawing, painting and illustrating children's books. I also learned how to present my work professionally so that I would get assignments as an illustrator. That was more than 25 years ago and now I go to Art Schools and share my experience with the students. 

I have published more than 40 children's books as well as illustrations for book jackets, magazines, greeting cards and advertizing. In 2001 I began collaborating with Pat Schories on the Biscuit Series and have illustrated 16 of them. In 2004 I began illustrating new Curious George books. I truly enjoy drawing George in the style of H.A.Rey. I like the challenge of showing him having lots of fun and as usual, getting into some type of trouble. I am presently working on my 8th and 9th Curious George. 

My studio is in my home in White Plains, NY. I was very fortunate to work and also to be available while my 3 children were growing up. It is wonderful to be able to take a short break every few hours and walk around my yard and enjoy the emerging flowers, our vegetable garden, the autumn leaves or the snow. I also enjoy hiking, skiing, running, kayaking and bicycling.

I often visit schools and libraries to talk to children about my work. They get so excited when they try to guess what I am drawing for them. To all the children and adults who enjoy picture books - thank you!

From Booklist:

Gr. 3^-6. When Phillis Wheatley arrived in Boston as a slave girl in 1761, no one could imagine that she would go on to become an internationally known poet--and the first black American ever to publish a book. From her first days in the Wheatley household, Phillis was encouraged to learn to speak and read English, and, most importantly, to write. She soon began to compose poems--though, sadly, none of her poems is included here in full--and at the age of 17, only 10 years after her arrival in America, Phillis had begun publishing in the colony newspapers. Weidt's biography in the Creative Minds series provides excellent historical background, explaining in simple, well-written text the concept of slavery and the political conflicts leading up to the Revolutionary War. However, the fact that Wheatley's circumstances were extraordinary compared to the lives of most slaves at the time is not emphasized nor given proper context. Also, the author has a tendency to offer conjecture to compensate for gaps in the known details of Wheatley's life. But, overall, the biography provides a welcome introduction to her life and accomplishments. Bibliography. Shelle Rosenfeld

About this edition

• Publisher: LernerClassroom
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 1575050595
• ISBN 13: 9781575050591
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 64
• Illustrator: Young Mary O'Keefe