And She Was Loved: Toni Morrison's Life in Stories, written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Daniel Minter. Little, Brown and Company, Hachette. 2025. $24.99 ages 9 and up

 

"And she was loved ... 

With your college degree in hand,
here comes a golden seed, planted in your ready palm. 
Toni Morrison, sign here, you're hired.
They know you're smart when they let you in
but have no idea how you will build empires."

The remarkable poetry written to introduce middle grade readers to the iconic Toni Morrison is testament to the marvelous talent of another great writer - Andrea Davis Pinkney. Ms. Pinkney has chosen to tell this life story from first chalk writings on the sidewalk where dreams were shared. Born in Lorain, Ohio and named Chloe Ardelia, and living in a rickety old house filled with words and song, Chloe knew great love. 

Words were her friends at school, at home, and on the street. Because she was born to read, she helped her brothers learn. Happy childhood led to university life where she made her presence known, and changed her name to Toni. An historically black university, Howard provided an education that allowed students to think widely and offered an education that led to her working with new writers, while writing quietly and privately on her own stories. 

"You manage a scribbled story 
about a Black girl wishing for sapphire eyes. 
With her tale, your own writing bursts fully alive." 

Toni Morrison's writing and storytelling continues to have great meaning for the world's readers. The Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winner is here honored for the power of her words, and the love she inspired. She was, indeed, loved and continues to be through her life's work. 

"Toni Morrison, you do not shy back.
You - mother of spiritual mythology.
You - deliver the ticket. Finally. A front-row seat to Black-is-truly-beautiful."

In back matter, Ms. Pinkney includes a note about how this poem came to be, and Daniel Minter offers an artist's note on his process for the meaningful artwork. Following that, a paragraph speaks of Toni Morrison's many accomplishments and a timeline for her life from her birth in 1931 until her death in 2019 is shared. Lists of selected works and sources consulted for the writing are appended.