Off the Wall

(Hardback)

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Description

Graffiti. Shapes moving in every direction, letters weaving in and out, bright colors jumping off of the wall. It was like a language from another planet that only I could understand. In this bright, colorful, and movement-filled picture book, a young girl moves with her family from the big city to a small town. She feels odd and out of place until a stroll down the street hits her with echoes from home: vibrant graffiti splashed against the wall. But when it's painted over that sense of belonging is lost, until an afternoon's adventure shows her that street art can be found everywhere-as well as a sense of home. In his exceptional author-illustrated debut, Theodore Taylor III has crafted an ode to street art, a stunning celebration of a much-maligned art form and all the beauty it brings to a neighborhood.

Reviews

"Taylor's vibrant, explosive illustrations vividly capture street art's dynamism in a palette with purple and gold highlights. Celebrating kids, art, and supportive communities, this gem deserves a wide audience." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Part fish-out-of-water story, part ode to street art, this vibrant offering will grab readers' attention." --Horn Book, starred review

"The illustrations are vibrantly colorful. While an afterword states that the author is not a graffiti artist, the works he creates within this book jump off the page. A worthy addition to any collection, provocative and perfect for starting conversations about the definition of art, its many forms, as well as its gatekeepers." --School Library Journal

Author Bio

Theodore Taylor III is a children's book author and illustrator living in Richmond, Virginia with his wife Sarah and son Theo. He is the illustrator of Woke, Woke Baby, and the New York Times bestselling C is for Country by Lil Nas X. He also received the Coretta Scott King John Steptoe New Talent Award for his work on When The Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop. He is also the illustrator behind Shaquille O'Neal's Little Shaq Series. His work is inspired by his love of music, comics, animation, video games, street art, and more. During the day he works as a front-end web developer. Theodore3.com