AND SHE WAS LOVED Toni Morrison's Life in Stories

Andrea Davis Pinkney showcases her praise poem to Toni Morrison with a practiced delivery, addressing her subject as "you" throughout. Pinkney is gentle in describing Morrison's youthful love of letters; she deepens her voice as the future Nobelist gains confidence at Howard University. Her voice swells with pride as Morrison conquers the literary world as an editor and writer before turning conversational in her author's note. When Pinkney punctuates her text with the titular refrain, the brief shifts to third person are somewhat jarring. Listeners who peruse the picture book alongside the audio will see that the refrain is set apart in display type, and they'll also marvel at Daniel Minter's ethereal images. Print and audio combine for an experience worthy of Morrison's life and legacy. V.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2025]