Today on The Lerner Podcast, we talk with Nina Crews, illustrator of A Girl Like Me.
Nina is a critically acclaimed children’s book author and illustrator. She uses photographs and photocollages to create energetic stories about young children. In this book, she uses her signature style to illustrate Angela Brown’s empowering poem, “A Girl Like Me”.
“Once I dreamed I swam / the ocean / and saw everything deep, cool / and was part of the waves. / I swam on by the people / onshore / hollering, / ‘A girl like you needs to / stay out of the water / and be dry / like everyone else.’”
Empower young readers to embrace their individuality, reject societal limitations, and follow their dreams. This inspiring picture book celebrates girls of color.
Nina discusses how the book came to be, her hopes for young readers to continue making the world a better place, and artists whose children’s books she loves.
Show notes
In-process images:
Photo outtakes:
Nina’s recommendations:
My People by Langston Hughes, illustrated by Charles R. Smith Jr.
The Lerner Podcast with Nina Crews
Read a transcript of the interview here.
Check out more episodes of The Lerner Podcast.