Original rhymes and poems accompany old photographs of young African-American children collected earlier by Myers. Myers comments in his brief opening statement that these were children loved in their time by the adults who prepared them for a photograph, and valued by the person behind the camera. By immortalizing these Brown Angels, Myers implies the importance of all children. In writing about them, he specifies their beauty and worth. Preschoolers will enjoy paging through the album to see other children in photographs. Older children might make up stories about them and their families or wonder about photographs kept by their family. Adults can reflect upon what can be understood by seeing the faces, little suits and dresses, ribbons and ties, bare feet and toys. This exquisitely designed and printed album of brown-toned photos is wonderfully decorated with the recurring image of a full-color bird in flight. Elegant bookmaking expresses Myers' tender respect for these children of yesterday. (All ages)

Join acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers in a heartwarming celebration of African-American childhood in words and pictures. Sharing favorites from his collection of long-forgotten turn-of-the-century photographs, and punctuating them with his own moving poetry, Mr. Myers has created a beautiful album that reminds us that "the child in each of us is our most precious part."