She loves manipulating color and adding whimsy with a touch of realism and calm. Geneva’s work has won the 2018 Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist and a 2018 BSFA Award nomination. She’s illustrated children’s books The Dragon Thief, Beyoncé: Shine Your Light, and Curls, among others. Geneva Bowers is a self-taught illustrator based in western North Carolina.

Ruth is a former teacher of creative writing with the University of Southern California and June Jordan’s Poetry for the People program at UC Berkeley and is a longtime faculty member with the VONA writing program. She has presented in forums such as the United Nations, the PBS series The United States of Poetry, and National Public Radio. She is the recipient of the Barnard New Women Poets Prize and the PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award, among others. Ruth Forman is the author of award-winning poetry collections We Are the Young Magicians and Renaissance and children’s books Young Cornrows Callin Out the Moon and Curls. This simple, playful, and beautiful board book stars four friends who celebrate the joy of their hairstyles from bouncing curls to swinging braids. When not at her drawing table, Talia enjoys reading books, roller-skating with friends, and taking care of her many plant children.We are thrilled to welcome Ruth Forman and Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie in conversation for the wonderfully joyful board book Curls! This event will be held digitally via Crowdcast and is free to RSVP. If you order the book from our website, you will automatically be registered for the event, and there will also be an option to buy the book during the event!Ī joyfully poetic board book that delivers an ode to African American girls and the beauty of their curls. She's also intrigued by color and light and enjoys exploring its impact on the composition, emotion, and storytelling of her work. Inspired by fantasy books and films, Impressionism, and Rembrandt-era master portraits, she often blends these motifs with strong female subjects to create portraits that feel both classical and modern. She currently loves telling stories and creating colorful, emotionally expressive illustrations with a sprinkle of whimsy.

Growing up in a family that appreciated the arts, she fell in love with painting both digitally and traditionally at an early age. Talia Skyles is a Baltimore-based illustrator and painter and is currently working towards her BFA at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Ruth Forman is the author of bestselling children's books, Curls, Glow, Bloom, and Ours, as well as award-winning poetry collections We Are the Young Magicians and Renaissance. By Grade + Interest - K to 1st By Grade + Interest - 2nd to 3rd By Grade + Interest - 4th to 5th

Curls ruth forman