What inspired me to write Josephine?
Well, I’m a dancer. And…back in 2005, I was working at The Urbana Free Library in the children’s department as a librarian and there was a regular group of unfocused preteen girls running pretty wild. I thought Josephine with all her pizzazz and confidence and focus, could be a wonderful role model.
And after reading Josephine I hope readers will be inspired to dream. And to do whatever they dream of doing.
Awards and Honors
Robert F. Sibert 2015 Honor Book
Coretta Scott King 2015 Illustrator Honor
Boston Globe Horn Book Nonfiction Honor 2014
Parents’ Choice Gold Award for Poetry 2014
International Bologna/Ragazzi Nonfiction Honor 2014
Junior Library Guild Selection 2014
Huffington Post Best Picture Book of the Year 2014 – Biography (artist)
Wall Street Journal’s 10 Best Children’s Books of the Year List for 2014
Consider “Liking” Josephine on Facebook.
Picture Book Bibliography – Black History Curriculum Guide
Picture Book Biography Bibliography – Poetry
Reviews
Children’s Books: Now Introducing the Sensational Josephine Baker–Wall Street Journal, 1/10/2014
“…jazzy syncopated free verse…poetic voice…”—Los Angeles Times 1/8/14
“Baker’s entire life spreads out in this tapestry of words.”—Publishers Weekly 11/1/13, Starred Review 
“An extraordinary dancer and woman is here celebrated with style and empathy.”—Kirkus Reviews 11/1/13, Starred Review
“Captivating… a fun, enriching, and holistic reading experience.”—School Library Journal 3/2014, Starred Review
“Powell and Robinson create a biography of a woman whose life and art are inseparable.”—Shelf Awareness for Readers 1/17/2014, Starred Review
Horn Book May/June 2014, Starred Review
Recorded Books School Library Journal May 2014, Starred Review
“staccato phrases move like music”—Shelf Awareness
“Factual and yet poetic… defies convention as boldly as its subject did.”— Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books “Recommended” January 2014
“Honors the colorful exuberance of both the Jazz era and Baker’s life.”—Booklist 2/2014
Josephine: A children’s book as complex, vibrant, and endearing as Josephine Baker herself. —Cool Mom Picks
“Powell writes with great reverence and a vigor”—Julie Danielson of 7 Impossible Things
“…a gripping tale.”—Denver Post 1/8/14
“I love how (the book) JOSEPHINE is, like the real Josephine, a rare creature.”—Richie’s Picks
“homeschooling: I could do studies off of [Josephine] for a couple of weeks easily.” —Stanley & Katrina
“an extraordinary tribute to an American legend.”—BookPage
“Powell’s text leaps of the page with energy and playfulness.”—Busy Librarian
“a stunning picture book that will entice young and old alike.”—Suzanne Morris on Kid Lit Reviews
“It’s written…as though Baker herself was singing the story.”—Buck’s County Courier Times
“…my two favorite books” –Julie Danielson of 7 Impossible Things
Lists
ALA Notable Children’s Books for “All Ages”
NPR Best Books of the Year 2014
Best Picture Books of 2014 | Adventures in Learning | PBS Parents
New York Public Library Best Children’s Books 2014
Best Books – Children’s Wall Street Journal
Horn Book Fanfare Best of 2014
Book Page Best Children’s Books of 2014
GoodReads Choice Awards 2014 Picture Book Finalist
School Library Journal List of Best Books of 2014 – Nonfiction
Blue Ribbon Books 2014 – Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books
Chicago Public Library – Best Books for Older Readers (older kids) 2014
100 Magnificent Children’s Books 2014
Nerdy Book Club Nonfiction 2014
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature’s Best Multicultural Books of 2014
Picture Book Tributes to Black Women
“This is how you do a great biography, my friends.” Favorite 2014 Picture Books…So Far—Julie Danielson
25 Contemporary Picture Books to Help Parents, Teachers, and Kids Talk About Diversity—BuzzFeed
45 Books to teach Children About Black History–The Culture
Amazon Editor’s Choice Best Book of the Month for Readers 6-8 January 2014
Daily Candy Product of the Month February 2014
SLJ Pick of the Day February 26, 2014
Follett School Solutions Title EZ subscription program Starred Review May 2014
National Education Association (NEA) Read Across America Calendar January 2015
ABC Best Books for Children Catalog 2014
A White Raven 2014 book – recommended by White Ravens Catalogue of the International Youth Library (housed in Germany).
The Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California Presents 2014 Distinguished Books
2016-2017 William Allen White Children’s Book Award’s Master List – Kansas State Book Award
New York City Reads 365 for 2016 – Grade 5
Reading Rocket Holiday Gift Book Guide 2015
Chicago’s Battle of the Books – 4th-6th grades
California Reads Eureka Silver Honor 2016
100 Best Children’s Books for Black History Month
Ireland’s Bold Girls campaign (Reading Guide p. 68)
17 Books for Women’s History Month
Fundamental Children’s Books – 30 Picture Books About World Changing Women
NPR Books Summer Poll 2020: Kids’ Books: Welcome To Story Hour: 100 Favorite Books For Young Readers
52 Incredible Picture Book Biographies of Black People Creating and Leading
Water Cooler Reads for Black History Month 2021
31 Picture Books to Celebrate Women’s History Month
30 Children’s Books About Strong Powerful Women Across the Globe
Interviews and Guest Blogs
“It’s a visionary picture book.”–Nonfiction Nook
What Would Josephine Do?–Patricia’s guest blog on Nerdy Book Club
Interview with Patricia about Josephine on Live & Local with Kevin Kelly NPR station WILL 90.9 FM–2/10/14 from counter 29:00 to 60:00
“Read the kind of books you want to write.”–Interview with Colby Sharp
“Josephine is already collecting a jewel box of starred reviews”—Kate Hannigan
Michelle Markel’s Cat and the Fiddle interview with Patricia
A dancer writes about a dancer—The News-Gazette
Who was your idol?—Riffle Backstory
for Women’s History Month —Children’s Book Review Blog
Josephine rocks and so does her author—I.N.K.
This was a dream project–CM Cloud
photos of Josephine Baker paired with Christian Robinson’s artwork from the book—This Picture Book Life
A book for diverse readers and all ages
WILL Radio interview to celebrate NPR Best Books
Pivot – University of Illinois Dance Department Newsletter
Picture Book Builders – The Dazzling Amazing 104 Page Picture Book
Champaign-Urbana News Gazette Getting Personal
Guest blog for Angie Karcher’s Rhypibomo – Rhythm in Writing – Are you naturally musical?
A Word Edgewise recommended middle grade books in verse
Articles
“Powell’s slam-bam free verse has a Jazz Age-evoking musicality”—Kirkus Review
See Christian Robinson’s “exploration” illustrations of covers for Josephine.—7 Impossible Things
Who would dare search Josephine Baker to the skin?—Champaign Urbana News Gazette 1/26/14
Boston Globe Horn Book Nonfiction Honor Acceptance Speech
Purchase Josephine at your independent bookstore.