---
From the Newbery Honor–winning author of Genesis Begins Again comes a shimmering picture book that shines the light on Zora Neale Hurston, the extraordinary writer and storycatcher extraordinaire who changed the face of American literature.
Zora was a girl who hankered for tales like bees for honey. Now, her mama always told her that if she wanted something, “to jump at de sun”, because even though you might not land quite that high, at least you’d get off the ground. So Zora jumped from place to place, from the porch of the general store where she listened to folktales, to Howard University, to Harlem. And everywhere she jumped, she shined sunlight on the tales most people hadn’t been bothered to listen to until Zora. The tales no one had written down until Zora. Tales on a whole culture of literature overlooked…until Zora. Until Zora jumped.
BIO
Alicia D. Williams is the author of Mid-Air, which was longlisted for the National Book Award; Genesis Begins Again, which received Newbery and Kirkus Prize honors, was a William C. Morris Award finalist, and for which she won the Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award for New Talent; and picture books Jump at the Sun, Nani and the Lion, and The Talk, which was also a Coretta Scott King Honor book. An oral storyteller in the African American tradition, she lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.
REVIEWS
"A lively, joyfully rendered portrait of a literary legend." -- Publisher Weekly, starred review
“Williams’ narration is a readaloud dream….it will be a joyful guide for folklore enthusiasts” -- BCCB, starred review
“This introduction to an American icon feels just right.” -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"A welcome addition to any picture book biography collection" -- School Library Journal, starred review
[H] Atheneum Books / January 12, 2021
0.6" H x 11.1" L x 10.2" W (1.28 lbs) 48 pages
For ages 4 to 8