Michele Wood's paintings are based on her family's early 20th century sharecropping experiences in the southern U.S.A. Containing patterns reminiscent of African textiles, Ms. Wood's works are distinctive and intriguing. Toyomi Igus's interpretations of Wood's reflections on her journey home accompany 18 works reproduced in full color. Igus's comments serve as invitations to look closely at Wood's paintings. Both have appeal for and are accessible to children. Honor Book, 1996 CCBC Coretta Scott King Award Discussion: Illustrator (Ages 9-12)

More than half a century after her family moved north to find a better life, African American artist Michele Wood returned to the south to see and feel the land where her ancestors lived. Going Back Home presents a series of her paintings inspired by this personal journey. Through her complex and richly patterned art, Wood places herself back in history, imagining the struggles of her ancestors to overcome hardship through family love and strong community. Michelle Wood collaborated with author Toyomi Igus to interpret her visual images and family stories. Igus's moving text draws on African American history to reveal the experiences of Wood's turn-of-the-century sharecropping family.