Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem

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]

Renowned poet Maya Angelou’s text urges us to face what frightens us, whether it is real or imaginary. Haitian-American artist Jean Michel Basquiat’s full-color paintings capture just how challenging it is to be brave.

“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.