Books of Wonder

Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas

Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas - Main image
$12.53 $18.99 In stock

Category: Products

*SIGNED BOOKPLATE*

Celebrate the life-changing power of artwork in this inspiring and stunningly illustrated picture book biography of American artist Alma Thomas.

Circles and stripes.
Dashes and dabs.
Soft colors, bright colors.
Alma’s colors.

As a child in Georgia, Alma Thomas loved to spend time outside, soaking up the colors around her. And her parents filled their home with color and creativity despite the racial injustices they faced. After the family moved to Washington, DC, Alma shared her passion for art by teaching children. When she was almost seventy years old, she focused on her own artwork, inspired by nature and space travel.

In this stunning celebration of art and the power of imagination, Jeanne Walker Harvey and Loveis Wise tell the incredible true story of Alma Thomas, the first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum in New York City and to have her work chosen for the White House collection. With her bold and vibrant abstract paintings, Alma set the world ablaze with color.

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Customer Reviews (4.9 / 5 · 7 reviews)

Henry P. ★★★★★

My daughter loved running her fingers over the signed bookplate while I read aloud about the "circles and stripes" in Alma's paintings. The way the illustrations mimic her art style made the story click for her immediately.

James ★★★★★

My six-year-old was mesmerized by the contrast between the bright, splashy art and the quiet story of Alma’s determination. The signed bookplate made it feel like a special keepsake rather than just another library book.

Jason X. ★★★★★

The signed bookplate is a lovely touch, and the illustrations truly capture her vibrant color-block style. I bought it for a young niece who loves art, and she was completely captivated by the story and the unique dashes and dabs in the paintings.