In her debut picture book Misty Copeland tells the story of a young girl - an every girl - whose confidence is fragile and who is questioning her own ability to reach the heights that Misty has reached. Misty encourages this young girl's faith in herself and shows her exactly how, through hard work and dedication, she too can become Firebird. Lyrical and affecting text paired with bold, striking illustrations that are some of Caldecott Honouree Christopher Myers' best work, makes Firebird perfect for aspiring ballerinas everywhere.

 

This book was recognised in the Illustrator category by the Coretta Scott King Award. Presented annually since 1970 by the American Library Association to books by African-America authors and illustrators, this award recognizes excellence in promoting a deeper understanding of the African-American Experience. It was recognised in the New Writer category by the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award. The EJK Award is given annually to an outstanding new writer and new illustrator by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation. An Honor Books category was added in 2012. A distinguished selection committee of early childhood education specialists, librarians, illustrators and experts in childrens literature reviews the entries, seeking books that portray the universal qualities of childhood, a strong and supportive family, and the multicultural nature of our world. The EJK Award was co-presented by the New York Public Library from 1986 to 2011. Since 2012, the de Grummond Childrens Literature Collection has co-presented the award at the Childrens Book Festival, held in April at the University of Southern Mississippi, in Hattiesburg. To be eligible, writers and illustrators must have had no more than three books previously published.

There are 40 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2014 by Penguin Putnam Inc .

Misty Copeland made history by becoming the first African American female principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. The bestselling author of Life in Motion and a children's picture book, Firebird, she is the recipient of the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in the Arts and an inductee into the Boys and Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2015, Misty was named to Time magazine's 100 list and was one of Glamour magazine's "Women of the Year. " She lives in New York City. Visit her online at MistyCopeland. com. Christopher Myers is an award-winning author and illustrator of children's books. He won a Caldecott Honor for his illustrations in Harlem , and has received three Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards. Myers has illustrated many books written by his father, award-winning author Walter Dean Myers. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.