Life Doesn’t Frighten Me

Originally read at the 2005 White House tree-lighting ceremony and published as a Christmas book for adults, Angelou’s stirring poem is presented alongside convivial winter scenes in a picture book intended for young readers, but whose message and splendid artwork will appeal to all ages. Angelou celebrates the spirit of the season — a time to learn to look beyond complexion and see community — with a resonating call for hope, unity, and, above all, peace. [Booklist]

A young Ashanti boy invites readers to visit his West African village, famous for fine kente cloth, and to share his “magic” — a masterful imagination. Kofi is an engaging scamp whose vivid “daydreams” that transport him to other places will speak to children everywhere and present them with a clear vision of his beloved West African world. [School Library Journal]

“Hello, Stranger-Friend” begins Maya Angelou’s story about Thandi, a South African Ndebele girl, her mischievous brother, her beloved chicken, and the astonishing mural art produced by the women of her tribe. With never-before-seen photographs of the very private Ndebele women and their paintings, this unique book shows the passing of traditions from parent to child and introduces young readers to a new culture.

Twenty-five of Maya Angelou’s finest poems capture a range of emotions and experiences in this collection for young people, from the playful “Harlem Hopscotch” to the prideful “Me and My Work” to the soul-stirring “Still I Rise.” Award-winning artist Jerome Lagarrigue masterfully illustrates each verse, and renowned academic Dr. Edwin Graves Wilson, a longtime colleague of Dr. Angelou, has written the book’s introduction, introductions to the poems, and annotations.