This a great book, if only for the sneaking way Andrews's superb writing sudenly shocks the reader into the realization of what great talent he had. I won't give away any of the story- readers should pick up the book and find out for themselves. I will tell you, though, that what attracted me to Andrews in the first place was the tragic story of his all too short life. I may be suspect for reading a book only because of the interest I had in the author's personality. Does this take away from the work ? Possibly, but authors are intriguing people, and their personal stories can be as compelling as their fiction. Andrews has an elegant style that comes across as almost savage at the same time. This book is populated with a vivid gallery of characters that breath life right of the page. Andrews can take his palce among the canon of great the Southern writers that came befor him- Faulkner, O'Connor- and his living contemporaries like the Great George Garrett. Read and enjoy !

I loved this book, it made me proud to be an African American. It makes you realize that the things you see on TV and the news are covering up the talent and greatness of African Americans. There are poems by various poets, all of them are great!

Pictures For Miss Josie is a remarkable picture book by Sandra Belton based on the life of celebrated African-American artist Josephine Carroll Smith. Slightly abstract yet vivid color illustrations by Benny Andrews complement this glowing portrayal of Miss Josie and her exhortations concerning the importance of believing in oneself and rising to one's fullest potential. Pictures For Miss Josie is very highly recommended for school and community library picture book collections.

Extremely colorful book about a wild character, Rosiebelle Lee. Based on Andrews' grandmother's life as a woman of color whooping it up in the segregated south. Highly recommended even if you don't normally read books from this genre.

Fraustino, Lisa Rowe (2001). The Hickory Chair. Illustrated by Benny Andrews. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0-590-52248-5...

Louis can't see his Gran, because he is blind, but he can smell her, "lilacs, with a whiff of bleach," and he loves her "molasses voice." When she dies, she leaves behind a note for each of her family, hidden on a favorite thing she wants them to keep. Louis is the best at finding the notes, but no one can find the note she left for him. Since he has no note, he can take his pick, and is comforted by the hickory chair in which she often held him, which still holds her smell and her shape "rocked into the seat." Years later his grandchild finds the note his Gran left him, hidden in the hickory chair.
This is primarily a story about the ways memories, love, and the senses are tied together. Louis' memories and love are both expressed in sensory images. When he is happy, the air tasted "sweet and light." When he is sad, the air "curdled in my throat." We are given a vivid portrait of the manner in which a child without sight perceives the world. Benny Andrews' oil and fabric collage illustrations complement the text. The angular figures show us the emotions of Louis' African American family, sometimes joyous, sometimes somber, but always loving. The text is straightforward and vivid. A good choice for elementary school age children, this book will be even more effective with a discussion afterward.

Louis is the youngest grandson in the family and has a special loving relationship with his Gran. Singer, wind listener and storyteller, she shares lots of sensory experiences with all her grandchildren. Like many other multi-generation relationship books, Grandmother is wise and wonderful. When Gran is gone, Louis misses her very much, especially when she seems to have forgotten him. I really empathized with the feelings that Louis must have had at the loss of such a close and powerful relationship and at his grandmother's seeming abandonment. How painful to a young-without defenses boy.

The artwork, bright, naive, folk-style paintings is pretty and gives a southern feeling to the book.

As Gran always told him, Louis was her favorite youngest grandchild. Their relationship was so close and special. He remembers how she always smelled of lilacs and bleach and how her voice sounded like molasses. He remembers her salty kisses and the games of touch your nose and hide and seek with his cousins. And he remembers how his Gran told him that even though he was blind, he could still see as well as anyone, because he had "blind sight". But mostly he remembers sitting on her lap in the hickory chair his grandfather had made from a tree that grew right where he built their house, reading and telling stories and sharing. When Gran died, she wanted everyone in the family to have something special that belonged to her and so she left notes all around her little house and sent the family on a treasure hunt. Louis was the best finder because he knew Gran so well and pretty soon everyone had found their notes and had their special possessions. Everyone, but Louis. How could his Gran have forgotten her favorite youngest grandchild? So Louis picked from what was left, the old hickory chair and once he had climbed up and sat down, the missing note didn't matter so much because he felt like he was back on Gran's lap..... Lisa Rowe Fraustino has written a tender, gentle, poignant story that reaches out to both children and adults alike. Her eloquent text is full of imagery and magic and complemented by Benny Andrews' beautifully expressive and innovative artwork. You'll swear you can hear Gran's molasses voice, smell the scent of lilacs and bleach and taste her salty kisses. And many years later, as Louis sits with his youngest favorite grandchild in the old hickory chair, they make a discovery that will put a smile on each and every readers face. Perfect for youngsters 6-10, The Hickory Chair is storytelling at its very best and will touch your heart with its insight and wisdom.

This book was a great read! As always, Andrews is very descriptive when it comes to details which kept me very intrigued, I hated to take a break. He takes you from the beginning of Baby Sweets, working in the fields, to living in their old town with all the twists and turns of her life and why it came to be that way. He gives you all the emotions the sadness, happiness, hardships, fear, etc., whatever you can feel, you will feel it here. The best part of Andrews books is that they all intertwine some way, after reading other novels by him I see how he refers to characters in other story he's written. With these overlapping stories you get to know a little more about his characters. Another great book to add to my collection!

My 2 1/2 year old daughter picked this book, almost randomly, from the library shelf. I think she was attracted to the beautiful picture on the front cover. I tried to talk her out of it because the book is obviously advanced for her, but we took it home anyway. She asked for the book several times and listened to the entire story both times (high praise from a toddler). The words were beautifully written. The rhythm is slow and soothing.

I still think the book is a little mature for a toddler, but I intend to buy it and read it to her again when she's older. I love that the story of slavery is told from a child's view. I don't expect my daughter to ever understand what it would be like to be born into slavery, but this book makes this very important subject more attainable to a small child.

A also like that this is a universal story about a mother's unlimited love for her children.