The dazzling life of josephine baker and millions of other books are available for. Josephine baker sought to live a life outside the color line, in a world where her. A sad story of what sounds like exploitation under the guise of good intentions that had gone wrong and turned terrible for all of them. Jan 22, 2015 jeanclaude baker, owner of the times square restaurant chez josephine, outside the restaurant in 2009 during the 105th birthday party for doris eaton travis, the last surviving ziegfeld girl. I found the section written by her son jean claude baker of the famous rainbow tribe of children baker adopted more interesting. Josephine baker s rainbow tribe to prove that racial harmony was possible, the dancer adopted 12 children from around the globeand charged admission to. Josephine baker born freda josephine mcdonald, naturalised french josephine baker.
Josephine baker little people, big dreams book 16 kindle. Her mother, carrie mcdonald, was a washerwoman who had given up her dreams of becoming a musichall dancer. Jan 14, 2014 116 of over 2,000 results for josephine book. Josephine baker was born freda josephine mcdonald on june 3, 1906 in st. World renowned performer, world war ii spy, and activist are few of the titles used to describe josephine baker. This was the second biography i read on her within a week. Josephine by patricia hruby powell, illustrated by christian.
Because to research her entry, i read through a 600 page biography written by one of her children. Her performing days numbered, josephine baker did something outrageous. Her career was centered primarily in europe, mostly in her adopted france. At only, she left home to travel with a dance troupe, honing her silly onstage persona and earning pennies. Louis in 1906 she became a star of stage in france and ultimately worldwide, was involved in the french resistance in ww2, adopted 12 children from all over the world. How sara josephine baker saved the lives of americas. Josephine baker in art and life the new york times. Jun 03, 2007 josephine baker s cultural legacy is still alive beyond the hundredth anniversary of her birth in 1906. She also devoted much of her life to fighting racism.
The life story of josephine baker, told by writings of hers and her associates. The dazzling life of josephine baker by patricia hruby powell and christian robinson. Josephine baker was a dancer and singer who became wildly popular in france during the 1920s. Josephine baker s cultural legacy is still alive beyond the hundredth anniversary of her birth in 1906. Louis, thinking i would be very proud to announce it to the public, they gave me the news first. Josephine baker s rainbow tribe to prove that racial harmony was possible, the dancer adopted 12 children from around the globeand charged admission to watch them coexist. The book features wonderful vivid illustrations of josephine baker life and career. Jeanclaude baker, son of josephine baker, is remembered.
Josephine baker childrens book meet josephine baker, the worldfamous entertainer, activist, and french resistance agent in this true story of her life. Josephine baker childrens book kids met opera shop. Would the perfect family contain a child from every race. Epidemics raged every year, killing thousands, and a third of the children there died before their fifth birthday. The dazzling life of josephine baker coretta scott king illustrator honor books powell, patricia hruby, robinson, christian on.
So, she moved to paris where audiences fell in love with her. Author patricia hruby powell casts josephine bakers story as a triumph of a. Josephine baker thought so and adopted a rainbow tribe of children to prove her point. Josephine baker, americanborn french dancer and singer who symbolized the beauty and vitality of black american culture, which took paris by storm in the 1920s. Josephine baker, her husband jo bouillon and their children at les milandes gammarapho via getty images bakers autobiography suggests that the decision to adopt had nothing to do with. Josephine baker love alone together people i remember when lindbergh arrived in paris, i was one of the first persons to know about his landing, because as the french people know that i was born in st. They learn language and a world of content, but too often kids also learn that protagonists are white. Readertotz honors the colorful exuberance of both the jazz era and bakers life. Mercurial, kind, animal activist, entertainer and heroine of world war ii. Unflinching, exhaustive, and sympathetic, it interviewed virtually every single person living whose life josephine had touched and in many cases, shed really done poorly by them. Josephine worked as a dancer, an actor and even a spy. Part of the beloved little people, big dreams series, this inspiring and informative little biography follows the incredible life of josephine baker, from growing up in st.
Feb 04, 1990 i had known nothing of the josephine baker of the bananas, the josephine who was a sex symbol for the french in the 1920s, the josephine for whom pirandello wanted to write a play and picasso. Apr 14, 2008 footage of josephine baker performing her infamous banana dance at the folies bergere in paris, france c. It was also during this time that she began adopting children, forming a family she often referred to as the rainbow tribe. Its a kids book, so it dances around the way she played with sexual. Apr 19, 2014 would the perfect family contain a child from every race. Josephine baker was born freda josephine mcdonald on june 3, 1906, in st. Wall street journals 10 best childrens books of the year list.
Between the ages of 8 and 10 she was out of school, helping to support her family. Josephine baker children s book meet josephine baker, the worldfamous entertainer, activist, and french resistance agent in this true story of her life. Dec 01, 20 written in free verse, the dazzling life of josephine baker by patricia hruby powell and illustrated by christian robinson is a beautiful little book and a great introduction to the life of the indomitable and glamorous african americanfrench dancer. Josephine baker, her husband jo bouillon and their children at les milandes. As bakers finances crumbled, she moved the rainbow tribe to monaco to live in a less grand home paid for by. I am hinting everybody via fb that i want this book for my birthday. It exists in live performances, art, photography, fashion, film, literature, and social. Mar 02, 2020 josephine baker was a dancer and singer who became wildly popular in france during the 1920s. Dec 18, 20 in exuberant verse and stirring pictures, patricia hruby powell and christian robinson create an extraordinary portrait of the passionate performer and civil rights advocate josephine baker, the. Her early life was marked by the ugly realities of racism, but when she moved to france in 1925, she gained fame as a singer, dancer, and actress in pariss integrated society. May 23, 2017 talking about josephine baker, author ernest hemingway described her as the most sensational woman anyone ever saw.
Her father was a vaudeville drummer named eddie carson who abandoned josephine and her mother, carrie mcdonald, at an early age. Sara josephine baker started working in new yorks lower east side, health inspectors called it the suicide ward. Written in free verse, the dazzling life of josephine baker by patricia hruby powell and illustrated by christian robinson is a beautiful little book and a great introduction to the life of the indomitable and glamorous african americanfrench dancer. Dancer, singer, activist, spy provides the first indepth portrait of this remarkable woman for young adults. Josephine is a freeverse biographical poem that pulls its inspiration from the life of a fascinating performer and civil rights pioneer. Louis, missouri, during segregation to defying expectations and. Josephine baker and the rainbow tribe matthew pratt guterl. Her fight against the damage that widespread urban poverty and ignorance caused to children, especially newborns, is perhaps her most lasting legacy. Segregated american clubs were willing to let africanamerican dancer josephine baker 19061975 perform, but they wouldnt let her use. Josephine baker little people, big dreams book 16 kindle edition by sanchez vegara, isabel sorlet, agathe. I understand that baker came of age in the earlier half of the 1900s when the united states and the world was a different place. I opened this picture book and was completely amazed. The dazzling life of josephine baker coretta scott king illustrator.
The national association for the advancement of colored people naacp named may 20 josephine baker day in honor of her efforts. Author peggy caravantes follows bakers life from her childhood in the depths of poverty to her comedic rise in vaudeville and fame in europe. Segregated american clubs were willing to let africanamerican dancer josephine baker 19061975 perform, but they wouldnt let her use the. Josephine baker thought so and adopted a rainbow tribe of children to. What happened to josephine bakers adopted children. Josephine baker sought to live a life outside the color line, in a world where her superb talent and spirited, superior heart could triumph. Matthew pratt guterl concludes that baker was a serious activist, determined to make a positive difference. Segregated american clubs were willing to let africanamerican dancer josephine baker 19061975 perform, but they wouldnt let her use the front door. Apr 18, 2014 josephine bakers rainbow tribe to prove that racial harmony was possible, the dancer adopted 12 children from around the globeand charged admission to watch them coexist. The dazzling life of josephine baker by patricia hruby.
I encourage everyone to watch this interview with julie menin where jeanclaude baker discusses josephines children. Her father, eddie carson, was a vaudeville drummer. Biography the official licensing website of josephine baker. Entertainer and civil rights activist josephine baker, who fled america to fame in europe, remains one of the 20th centurys most fascinating figures, and this biography aims to capture why in. How sara josephine baker saved the lives of americas children is the story of a courageous and unconventional woman who attended medical school long before it was considered normal for women to do so, and who dedicated her life to the vulnerable babies and children living in poverty in new york city. He abandoned carrie and josephine shortly after her birth. Within a few years of baker establishing her public health initiatives, the child death rate had plummeted. Sara josephine baker november 15, 1873 february 22, 1945 was an american physician notable for making contributions to public health, especially in the immigrant communities of new york city. Louis, she didnt have the same opportunities as white entertainers. Sep 14, 2014 music by isham jones and his orchestra. One of the most successful african american performers in french history, bakers career illustrates the ways entertainers can use their platforms to change the world. Josephine by patricia hruby powell, illustrated by. The many faces of josephine baker childrens book council. How sara josephine baker saved the lives of americas children by monica kulling and julianna swaney oct 9, 2018 4.
1269 486 699 1454 1002 444 771 778 460 476 629 1238 922 520 112 227 1284 664 463 745 971 1336 1299 1328 1491 1057 349 399 756 512 217 1134 1310 673 632 1312 448 1024 1040 1263 403 1381