Q: Why did you decide to write this picture book of
photographer James VanDerZee, and what do you see as his legacy today?
A: Ever since I was a kid, I loved looking through vintage
Victorian-style photographs of African Americans. Years later I read a
biography of James VanDerZee and discovered that even though he took up
photography as a child, then took tens of thousands of photos throughout his
career, he didn’t get “discovered” as an artist until he was in his 80s!
That’s when I realized that I just had to find a way to
share his amazing comeback story with children. Ultimately, I think James
VanDerZee's legacy lies in his ability to capture the love, pride, and joy of
the people of Harlem over the decades, one photo portrait at a time.
Q: How did you research the book, and what particularly
surprised you in the course of your research?
A: I read everything I could find on James VanDerZee, I
looked at hundreds of his photographs, I spoke to people who'd met him --
including his widow -- and I even ended up searching through public
records online to fill in some of his family details.
While researching his life I was particularly intrigued by
the fact that James VanDerZee never formally studied photography. Although he
studied the pamphlets that came with his cameras, he mostly learned the craft
of taking and developing portraits by trial and error.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from James VanDerZee’s
story?
A: After reading Take a Picture of Me, James VanDerZee!, I
hope that readers will feel inspired to pursue their own dreams, no matter how
far away they may seem at the moment. I also hope that it inspires them to take
more pictures of their own loved ones.
Q: What do you think Keith Mallett’s illustrations added to
the book?
A: Keith Mallett's illustrations are the perfect match for
the rich, vibrant, and nostalgic feeling I wanted to create with this book. The
amount of artistic and historical detail he used to bring this story to life is
truly breathtaking.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: In 2019 I have a new picture book coming out with Random
House Knopf -- Double Bass Blues, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez. But for now, I
am working on several different picture books.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Honestly, I am just thrilled that this book is finally
out so I can share the details of James VanDerZee's life with the world. He was
a remarkable man who created remarkable works. Thank you for interviewing me
about the book.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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