Life Doesn't Frighten Me (Hardcover)

by Maya Angelou (Author), Jean-Michel Basquiat (Author), Sara Jane Boyers (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Boyers, a TV producer and art collector, deserves a standing ovation for her performance in pairing Angelou's poem with abstract paintings by the late Basquiat. "Dragons breathing flame / On my counterpane / That doesn't frighten me at all. / I go boo / Make them shoo / I make fun / Way they run / I won't cry / So they fly"--had it been teamed with representational or whimsical illustrations, the verse might well have lost its dignity; instead, the proximity of Basquiat's edgy, streetwise pictures adds even greater power and authenticity to Angelou's refrain, "Life doesn't frighten me at all." Conversely, the affirming quality of the poem mediates Basquiat's disquieting urban images. Basquiat's first works were drawn onto the walls of Manhattan buildings, and the frenzied, sometimes angry compositions here have the rawness of graffiti. The reproductions invite close scrutiny, implicitly teaching the viewer a way of approaching contemporary art and reinforcing the tough beauty of the poem. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-A unique book that combines the words of a renowned African-American poet laureate and the primitive, modern paintings of a young Haitian-American artist. With lines of verse that shout exuberantly from each page, a young voice rails against any and all things that mean to do her harm. Whether they are "Shadows on the wall/ Noises down the hall" or even "Mean old Mother Goose/Lions on the loose"-to one and all she responds- "they don't frighten me at all." In the middle, the pace and intensity quicken as "I go boo/Make them shoo/I make fun/Way they run." Despite the scary things around her, the poet's determined courage remains. The art provides a jolting counterpoint to the optimistic words, reflecting a dark, intense vision. Violent splashes of color bleed and drip one into another, and white letters are scratched into black backgrounds. Stark figures with grotesque features face off against one another. Symbols such as arrows, birds, crowns, and letters emphasize the artist's anger and sense of irony. The choice of the paintings, taken as they were from an extant body of work, give levels of meanings to a poem already strong with images of its own. A powerful exploration of emotion and its expression through the careful blend of words and art.
Jane Marino, White Plains Public Library, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (February 6, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556702884
• ISBN-13: 978-1556702884
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 9.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #72,211 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nourish your child's intellect... cautiously, June 6, 2003

By	Dave Deubler (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

As an adult and a student, I was truly enchanted by this unique concatenation of Maya Angelou's spirited, optimistic poetry and Jean-Michel Basquiat's bold, explosive paintings. "Life" is less a story than an affirmation - the child narrator (whose gender is left to the imagination) lists a dozen or so items that could be causes for concern in young child's mind, but then conquers these fears with "They don't frighten me at all." Equally impressive are the brief, but detailed biographical sketches of both artists that closes the book.

My only reservation lies in the question "Who is this book really for?" While Basquiat's dynamic use of line and color and space make for fascinating pictures, and his style is consciously influenced by the artwork of Native Americans and small children, his habitual use of skeletal imagery and jagged, leering facial expressions might prove too intense for little ones. On the other hand, the beautiful simplicity of Angelou's poetry will probably fail to appeal to kids who are experienced enough to expect a certain level of plot in their reading.

My advice to parents is this: don't give this book to your kids - buy it for yourselves, and keep it someplace where it won't get all trashed up by dirty little hands. When you think they're ready, let your youngsters look at this book with you, so if the pictures should strike them the wrong way, you'll be there for them. Better not do this at bedtime until you're sure how they'll react - this could be the stuff nightmares are made of. But even if they love it, hang on to the book yourself, so that in a couple of years when your child loses interest (they may begin to see it as a "baby book"), you'll still have a beautiful coffee-table book of post-modernist art to share with your friends. And eventually, your kids might grow up into little intellectuals who can see what a delightful creation this book really is. It may not be perfect for anyone, but it certainly has something for everyone.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Doesn't Frighten Me at All, January 17, 2002

By	blackhorsemen "BH" (North Middletown, KY USA) - See all my reviews

As an avid reader of Maya Angelou's works, I purchased this book as a gift for my 7 year old daughter, hoping to impart to her a fondness for my favorite author as well.

I must say, that beyond my expectations, I have helped to create a Maya fan. My daughter immediately took to the book, on Christmas Day, no less, amid hundreds of dollars worth of toys. We read the book about a dozen times in the first two days. She still reads it daily, and even took it to school to share with her class.

Maya's poem picks up on the fear and anxiety causing incidents of youth, and allows the child to tromp his/her fear into the ground. After reading it, my daughter felt fearless, realizing that she was the master of her emotion and was not at the mercy of 'scary things'.

I highly recommend this book, either for a child, or as a lover of art and poetry. Additionally, a tremendous collectible title for the future.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an art book for parents and children, October 21, 2004

By	J. Bowen "Joe" (in sunny Austin, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is vibrant in both sight and sound. Basquiat's images fly off the page as do Angelou's words. Despite the brevity of the poetry, it is not a quick read. Time is spent looking at and discussing the artwork, and how it and the poetry interrelate with life. A 1st grader's art appreciation course in practice. Excellent for the living room coffee table.