Awards

• Commended for Orbis Pictus Award 2016

Overview

""In James E. Ransome's realistic pastel portraits, Battle, his family, and his teachers all seem lit from within."" --The New York Times Book Review A boy discovers his passion for dance and becomes a modern hero in this inspiring picture book biography of Robert Battle, artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. When Robert Battle was a boy wearing leg braces, he never dreamed he'd study at Juilliard. Though most dancers begin training at an early age, it wasn't until Robert was a teenager that his appreciation for movement--first from martial arts, then for ballet--became his passion. But support from his family and teachers paired with his desire and determination made it possible for Robert to excel. After years of hard work, the young man who was so inspired by a performance of Alvin Ailey's Revelations became the artistic director of the very company that motivated him. Today, under Robert's leadership, Alvin Ailey continues to represent the African American spirit through dance. Featuring illustrations brimming with vibrant color and swirling motion, this biographical picture book from husband-and-wife team James Ransome and Lisa Cline-Ransome includes a foreword from Robert Battle himself as well as a bibliography, suggested further reading, and an author's note.

Full Product Details

9781481422215

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Reviews

The story of a child who overcomes what could have been devastating obstacles to reach the heights of artistic achievement has become a staple of picture-book biographies, but this one has an especially warm glow around it. Robert Battle's journey to the center of the New York dance world -- he is currently the artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater -- started out in Florida, where as a child he was raised by a cousin after his mother wasn't able to care for him, and was forced to wear painful metal braces to straighten his legs. In the hands of the Ransomes, a husband-and-wife team, Robert's life is a classic inspirational story of family love, faith and passionate artistic devotion. His mama Dessie, the cousin who takes him in, surrounds him with music and tender care, but sends him to karate lessons too, since the streets aren't quite so nice. Do you think I can be the first black Baryshnikov? Robert asks when his braces have come off and he begins to study ballet. His sights are always upward, and yet the story emanates gentleness. In James E. Ransome's realistic pastel portraits, Battle, his family and his teachers all seem lit from within.--The New York Times Book Review November 4, 2015

The story of a child who overcomes what could have been devastating obstacles to reach the heights of artistic achievement has become a staple of picture-book biographies, but this one has an especially warm glow around it. Robert Battle s journey to the center of the New York dance world he is currently the artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater started out in Florida, where as a child he was raised by a cousin after his mother wasn t able to care for him, and was forced to wear painful metal braces to straighten his legs. In the hands of the Ransomes, a husband-and-wife team, Robert s life is a classic inspirational story of family love, faith and passionate artistic devotion. His mama Dessie, the cousin who takes him in, surrounds him with music and tender care, but sends him to karate lessons too, since the streets aren t quite so nice. Do you think I can be the first black Baryshnikov? Robert asks when his braces have come off and he begins to study ballet. His sights are always upward, and yet the story emanates gentleness. In James E. Ransome s realistic pastel portraits, Battle, his family and his teachers all seem lit from within.--The New York Times Book Review November 4, 2015

Author Information

Lesa Cline-Ransome is the author of numerous nonfiction and historical fiction titles for picture book, chapter book, middle grade, and young adult readers including Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams and The Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne. Her verse biography of Harriet Tubman, Before She Was Harriet was nominated for an NAACP Image Award and received a Jane Addams Children's Book Honor, Christopher Award, and Coretta Scott King Honor for Illustration. Her debut middle grade novel, Finding Langston, won the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction and received the Coretta Scott King Award Author Honor. She lives in the Hudson Valley region of New York with her husband and frequent collaborator, James Ransome, and their family. Visit her at LesaClineRansome.com. James E. Ransome's highly acclaimed illustrations for Before She Was Harriet received the 2018 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. His other award-winning titles include the Coretta Scott King winner The Creation; Coretta Scott King Honor Book Uncle Jed's Barbershop; Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt; and Let My People Go, winner of the NAACP Image Award. James is also a recipient of the ALA Children's Literature Legacy Award. He frequently collaborates with his wife, author Lesa Cline-Ransome, and their books include Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams and Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis. James is a professor and coordinator of the MFA Illustration Graduate Program at Syracuse University. He lives in New York's Hudson River Valley region with his family. Visit James at JamesRansome.com. Robert Battle became artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in July 2011 after being personally selected by Judith Jamison, making him only the third person to head the Company since it was founded in 1958. Mr. Battle has a long-standing association with the Ailey organization. A frequent choreographer and artist-in-residence at Ailey since 1999, he has set many of his works on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II, and at The Ailey School. The Company's current repertory includes his ballets Takademe and Unfold. Mr. Battle studied dance at The Juilliard School before joining the Parsons Dance Company, and later founding his own dance company called Battleworks. Mr. Battle was honored as one of the ""Masters of African-American Choreography"" by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2005, and he received the prestigious Statue Award from the Princess Grace Foundation-USA in 2007. He is a sought-after keynote speaker and has addressed a number of high-profile organizations, including the United Nations Leaders Programme and the UNICEF Senior Leadership Development Programme.

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