Kirkus
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A day in the life of photographer Roy DeCarava shows readers the joy of the everyday in Harlem. Roy DeCarava (1919-2009) gets off work, and now his “time is his own.” He loads a roll of film in his camera and pays attention to what he sees around him in Harlem. Relying on his senses, he takes in the city. With his camera, he captures a variety of sights. A boy drawing on the sidewalk with chalk. An artist showing his paintings as the sunlight catches his hat. A mother and son: the love in the boy’s eyes. A crushed soda can. And then there are the sights he can’t catch. A man holding a child as the bus pulls in front and blocks the photographer’s shot. Lewis’ watercolors, while not an obvious choice to echo the realism of photography, successfully capture the magical relationship between DeCarava and his subjects. With skillful use of line, light, and depth, Lewis transports readers and conveys the vision of an artist honoring the city he loves. Golio’s understated text makes judicious use of profound quotes from DeCarava himself on beauty and truth. Present-tense narration carries the energy of a vibrant neighborhood as seen through the attentive eyes of a brilliant visionary, while artistic details connote the period-specific portrait DeCarava drew of mid-20th-century Harlem. This memorable offering is one readers will return to for moments of inspiration. (more information on DeCarava, timeline, bibliography, list of museums featuring DeCarava’s work, photos, photo credits) (Picture-book biography. 4-9) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.