Take a Picture of Me, James VanDerZee!

Through vivid images and simple text, this picture-book biography follows James VanDerZee, the pioneering African-American photographer who captured the energy and elegance of the Harlem Renaissance. The story traces his journey from a curious child with a love of art to a celebrated professional whose camera documented the lives, fashion, and community of 1920s-30s Harlem, while also highlighting the obstacles he faced as a Black artist in a segregated industry. An afterword, reproductions of his photographs, and a list of sources round out the narrative, giving readers a glimpse into the real images that helped shape his enduring legacy.