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Candlewick Biographies
Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Follows Sarah Breedlove Walker's rise from a bleak world of poverty and discrimination to unprecedented success as a businesswoman and philanthropist.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Kathryn Lasky
257 books2,325 followersKathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
February 4, 2013
Candlewick Press has recently reissued in paperback Kathryn Lasky's biography of Sarah Breedlove Walker, originally published in 2000. In a brief 48 pages, Lasky chronicles the life of this remarkable woman, born into poverty to former slaves, who became a highly successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. Orphaned at the age of seven, Sarah had a difficult childhood, and married at the age of 14 to escape living with her sister and her cruel husband. She eventually moved to St. Louis where she worked as a laundress and diligently saved to be able to give her daughter the education she never had.
Because of poor nutrition, Sarah's hair began to fall out, and she began to work on a formula that would produce healthy hair for African-American women. After testing her products on herself, she began selling door-to-door, and eventually expanded her products into the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company, a business empire which made her the wealthiest black woman in America.
In a brief, easy to read narrative, Lasky hits on the highlights of Walker's life, emphasizing how remarkable her success was in an era when she had two strikes against her--being female and being black. My favorite scene in the book involves Waker attending a conference of African-American business leaders, all of whom (of course!) were men. Lasky describes how Walker tried unsuccessfully to get the attention of Booker T. Washington, so that she could speak. She finally sprang to her feet, relating how she came from the cotton fields of the South, promoting herself into the business of manufacturing hair goods. "'My object in life is not simply to make money for myself, but to use part of what I make in trying to help others,' continued Madam Walker...With these words, Madam Walker proved herself more than equal to any man in that room."
An epilogue describes Walker's commitment to philanthropy and to civil rights; her dying words were "I want to live to help my race." Back matter also includes an illustrator's note an index, and selected sources.
Abundantly illustrated with beautiful full color watercolor paintings by Nneka Bennett, Lasky's book is an inspirational tale that could be read aloud or read independently by children in elementary school.
November 17, 2011
Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker is a junior biography book written by Kathryn Lasky with illustrations by Nneka Bennett. Sarah became the first “free-born child” in her hometown after slavery ended in 1865. Orphaned at the tender age of seven, trying to create a life in the south for herself and her two siblings proved extremely difficult for Sarah. Threatened by the immense racial tension plaguing the south, Sarah found a way to push through the criticism to find her sense of self-worth and beauty.
a.) Madam Sarah’s initial vision of beauty and “dignity” for colored woman is a strength presented in Lasky’s biography (p. ).
b.) Appearance and physical beauty was extremely important to Sarah during her years. Sarah spent days working in the fields which never provided much time for proper beauty etiquette. She spent her nights sitting in the kitchen trying to “strengthen and restore” her hair (p.18). During Sarah’s adolescent years, the country rarely viewed colored woman as beautiful, but Sarah decided to pursue her dreams to change people’s minds. After nights of simple prayers and working out of her lower-end kitchen, Sarah created three beauty products to help with hair restoration, growth and strength.
c.) When Sarah was young, she loved to have her hair look “less nappy and knotty” (p. 8). As she aged, Sarah realized what really caught her eye about strong and beautiful appearances-it was because of “their proud looks, the confident way they held their heads and carried themselves” (p.12). Resting on the peak of her successful business career, with a head covered in “her own healthy hair”, Sarah completed her struggling journey with an extremely bold statement at the National Negro Business League Convention (p. 28). “I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. I was promoted from the fields to the washtabs. I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods. I have built my own factory on my own ground” (p.39). The years she endured as a poor colored orphan, of working in the hot sun-filled fields, of coming home to find more hair falling out, Sarah’s dream finally came true-she was free and her image gleamed with self-worth and dignity.
Classroom activities can range from historical instruction to lessons about determination and perseverance. Sarah’s journey from orphan to successful business woman is great for all students to read, hear and believe in. Filled with text of self-esteem encouragement and lessons about painful pasts, this enjoyable book would be a positive feature to many classrooms.
a.) Madam Sarah’s initial vision of beauty and “dignity” for colored woman is a strength presented in Lasky’s biography (p. ).
b.) Appearance and physical beauty was extremely important to Sarah during her years. Sarah spent days working in the fields which never provided much time for proper beauty etiquette. She spent her nights sitting in the kitchen trying to “strengthen and restore” her hair (p.18). During Sarah’s adolescent years, the country rarely viewed colored woman as beautiful, but Sarah decided to pursue her dreams to change people’s minds. After nights of simple prayers and working out of her lower-end kitchen, Sarah created three beauty products to help with hair restoration, growth and strength.
c.) When Sarah was young, she loved to have her hair look “less nappy and knotty” (p. 8). As she aged, Sarah realized what really caught her eye about strong and beautiful appearances-it was because of “their proud looks, the confident way they held their heads and carried themselves” (p.12). Resting on the peak of her successful business career, with a head covered in “her own healthy hair”, Sarah completed her struggling journey with an extremely bold statement at the National Negro Business League Convention (p. 28). “I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. I was promoted from the fields to the washtabs. I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods. I have built my own factory on my own ground” (p.39). The years she endured as a poor colored orphan, of working in the hot sun-filled fields, of coming home to find more hair falling out, Sarah’s dream finally came true-she was free and her image gleamed with self-worth and dignity.
Classroom activities can range from historical instruction to lessons about determination and perseverance. Sarah’s journey from orphan to successful business woman is great for all students to read, hear and believe in. Filled with text of self-esteem encouragement and lessons about painful pasts, this enjoyable book would be a positive feature to many classrooms.
February 18, 2018
Reading this after Crown: an ode to the fresh cut was a fortuitous selection. I understand better than I would have otherwise why what Madam Walker did was so important to the Black community. With her tragic background - parents both dead by the time she was age seven, married at 14 to escape an abusive brother in law - she still was able to make helping her community a priority in both her own life and in her corporation. She became one of the wealthiest women around....and was still ignored by Booker T. Washington. Luckily by then she had enough self confidence to speak up in spite of this! This was a nicely done book by Kathryn Lasky and illustrated by Nneka Bennett who contributed an important afterword. I'll have to read more about Madam Walker!
August 14, 2019
3.5 stars, a beautiful picture book biography about Madame C.J. Walker (also known as Sarah Breedlove Walker), a successful entrepreneur who may have been the Oprah Winfrey of the early 1900s. Recommended for tweens and classroom libraries.
July 24, 2010
I didn't know a thing about Sarah Breedlove Walker until I read this book. What an amazing woman! I never learned about people like this when I was in school back in the '60s. It's inspiring to read about what you can do if you're smart and really determined. Highly recommended!
March 1, 2012
"Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker" is an award-winning (Parent's Choice Award) picture book biography intended for primary readers. It tells the story of Sarah, who was born soon after the end of slavery in America and her struggle to become a dignified and successful woman. I gave the book a 3-star rating due to its effective presentation of Sarah's story. It takes the reader through a range of emotions from the fear and disgrace of her early days to the pride and joy that she experienced as she reached the position of being one of the wealthiest African American women in America.
The illustrations by Nneka Bennett add a special dimension to the story as they depict the feelings and experiences of Sarah's journey from sorrow to joy. Created through the mediums of pencil and watercolor, they bring the words to life.
I am confident that this book would be appealing to my students. As a special education teacher in an urban area, I feel that they are many aspects of Sarah's life that they could easily relate to in her timeless message of faith and hope.
The illustrations by Nneka Bennett add a special dimension to the story as they depict the feelings and experiences of Sarah's journey from sorrow to joy. Created through the mediums of pencil and watercolor, they bring the words to life.
I am confident that this book would be appealing to my students. As a special education teacher in an urban area, I feel that they are many aspects of Sarah's life that they could easily relate to in her timeless message of faith and hope.
March 2, 2015
I was raised in Indiana, and spent time in southern Indiana, and yet, I never heard of Madame Walker. I feel ashamed. She was a visionary, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, and a leader. Born a free child right after the Civil War, she lost her parents early...but from the very beginning she showed a willingness to work hard, to learn, and to go places other women -- and women of color -- dared not go.
This picture-book biography is beautiful and informative. Sarah Walker invented hair products for women of color, and when she knew she had a good product, she designed a sales campaign that not only benefited her, but other women who used her product.
Her pride and her courage make her a giant, and I am deeply ashamed I had to meet her so late in life.
She would smile at the lyric: "I am woman, hear me roar."
This picture-book biography is beautiful and informative. Sarah Walker invented hair products for women of color, and when she knew she had a good product, she designed a sales campaign that not only benefited her, but other women who used her product.
Her pride and her courage make her a giant, and I am deeply ashamed I had to meet her so late in life.
She would smile at the lyric: "I am woman, hear me roar."
October 3, 2012
I thought that overall,this book was a very good book. I really liked the illustrations. I would recommend this book to 3rd or 4th graders.
Children's Literature
This longer-than-usual, picture book tells the inspiring story Madame Walker, best known for founding a turn-of-the-century company that bolstered the beauty of African-American women. Lasky does an incredible job of getting to the emotional and character qualities of this amazing woman who did much more than change hair. Walker was the first freeborn child of a large, loving family. Life on their small farm was nearly impossible with the threats of poverty, disease, hard labor, and the KKK. After her parents' death, young Sarah moved to St. Louis where the stresses of early marriage, overwork, and poor nutrition resulted in loss of her hair. Inspired by a dream and prayer, she creates a concoction to rebuild healthy hair. She builds not just hair strength, but the esteem of black women by praising and enhancing their physical appearance and employing them as her sales force. Once she has attained financial security, Walker turns to the fight for the rights of women and all African-Americans in areas of culture and social justice. Illustrator Bennett, who, as a child was taught by her mother about the beauty and wonders of African-American hair, lauds the inner and outer beauty of the story's characters. 2000, Candlewick, Ages 6 to 10, $16.99. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
Children's Literature
This longer-than-usual, picture book tells the inspiring story Madame Walker, best known for founding a turn-of-the-century company that bolstered the beauty of African-American women. Lasky does an incredible job of getting to the emotional and character qualities of this amazing woman who did much more than change hair. Walker was the first freeborn child of a large, loving family. Life on their small farm was nearly impossible with the threats of poverty, disease, hard labor, and the KKK. After her parents' death, young Sarah moved to St. Louis where the stresses of early marriage, overwork, and poor nutrition resulted in loss of her hair. Inspired by a dream and prayer, she creates a concoction to rebuild healthy hair. She builds not just hair strength, but the esteem of black women by praising and enhancing their physical appearance and employing them as her sales force. Once she has attained financial security, Walker turns to the fight for the rights of women and all African-Americans in areas of culture and social justice. Illustrator Bennett, who, as a child was taught by her mother about the beauty and wonders of African-American hair, lauds the inner and outer beauty of the story's characters. 2000, Candlewick, Ages 6 to 10, $16.99. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
December 8, 2011
Genre: Biography Junior Book
In this book, readers learn about Sarah Breedlove Walker, an African American orphan born after the abolishment of slavery. She followed her dreams to become one of the most successful African American entrepreneurs.
a.) A major strength of this book is the illustrations.
b.) When reading biographies and autobiographies, visuals help make the story and history come alive. Although this book may not have real photographs, the illustrations done by Nneka Bennett are very rich, detailed, and allow readers to get several glimpses of Madame C.J. Walker’s life. The illustrations were done in pencil and watercolor.
c.) On pages 7 and 8, the illustrations show Sarah Breedlove Walker, her mother, and her sister. Her mother is doing her children’s hair. This illustration shows something that people may not have ever been able to see. It is very detailed and realistic; Walker’s facial expression says it all. I also think this illustration is a small premonition of her future success.
Curriculum Connection: Obvious curriculum connections are those associated with famous African Americans that help to change America. I also think there are great lessons to be learned from her story. For example, where you come from doesn’t dictate where you can go, as well as don’t stop following your dreams
In this book, readers learn about Sarah Breedlove Walker, an African American orphan born after the abolishment of slavery. She followed her dreams to become one of the most successful African American entrepreneurs.
a.) A major strength of this book is the illustrations.
b.) When reading biographies and autobiographies, visuals help make the story and history come alive. Although this book may not have real photographs, the illustrations done by Nneka Bennett are very rich, detailed, and allow readers to get several glimpses of Madame C.J. Walker’s life. The illustrations were done in pencil and watercolor.
c.) On pages 7 and 8, the illustrations show Sarah Breedlove Walker, her mother, and her sister. Her mother is doing her children’s hair. This illustration shows something that people may not have ever been able to see. It is very detailed and realistic; Walker’s facial expression says it all. I also think this illustration is a small premonition of her future success.
Curriculum Connection: Obvious curriculum connections are those associated with famous African Americans that help to change America. I also think there are great lessons to be learned from her story. For example, where you come from doesn’t dictate where you can go, as well as don’t stop following your dreams
November 28, 2016
The life of an impressive woman, telling how she started and grew to be wealthy and influential.
I don't know that I'd ever heard of Madame Walker before, but she was quite a fireball! The story tells of her harsh growing up years through to her death and includes where she got her ideas for her cosmetic business and drive for social reform. Though the artwork is good and the source material interesting, the story felt very disjointed. I know Ms. Lasky said she had to fill in some gaps, but some of the information just felt haphazardly placed (the adds for her hair care products coming before her marriage so you're wondering why she's selling things under a false name before finding out it was her name) and messed with the story for me.
Content notes: Ms. Lasky decided to be accurate to the time period, so she uses "colored" frequently and mentions several groups that have the word "negro" in their names; neither are meant to be derogatory terms in their contexts. No sensuality issues, she is married and has a child, but her personal life is kept mostly dark focusing on her public life. Schoolhouse burnings, lynchings and other violence are mentioned as happening around the country and though Mdm. Walker was in the area of some of these occurrences, no first hand views are told.
June 22, 2015
One of the most well-presented biographies for young readers I have ever encountered. Author Lasky's introductory note explains that her personal interest in Madam Walker began at a young age in Indianapolis. I myself had heard of Madam Walker as a successful black entrepreneur in the cosmetics business, and I have many times driven past the beautiful Walker Building in downtown Indianapolis. Lasky tells Madame Walker's story sensitively but honestly. She explains the injustice of sharecropping, the reason the KKK burned down schools for black children, and why Walker married at 14. Walker's achievements as a female cosmetician and employer could not be appreciated or understood by young readers without the historical context. I learned plenty myself, and I was impressed with the brevity and beauty of the text. Evocative watercolor and pencil illustrations and a personal note from Nneka Bennett complete the beautiful book.
May 10, 2013
I love biographies. I love simple biographies that get kiddos interested in people, history, cultures, philanthropy, get them thinking about their interests and desires for their lives, and hopefully get them thinking about how their life will contribute to a better world. This book is not my favorite writing, and the interest of the main character, "beauty" & hair, is not one I share; however, she used that interest to do good things for black women in a time that treated them so hideously. Her hope to stop her own hair loss led to development of products that not only worked but created a self-sustaining work for thousands of women who yearned for independence. She undoubtedly changed the world for the better through pursuing her interests and seeking to use them for good.
June 13, 2013
If you are looking for a biographical book that teaches some key components of the genre we teachers like to point out along the way, look no further than Vision of Beauty. If you're looking for a book that teaches young girls (and to some extent, guys)to believe in themselves, to never let go of a dream no matter what, to not worry about what is reflected in the mirror...then look no further. The illustrations added a richness to the time period, which will undoubtedly support a young reader unfamiliar with the time period.
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December 11, 2016grade level: 2nd -5th
awards:none
Summary: The story of Sarah Breedlove Walker who was a born right after slavery was abolished. Tells about the difficulties and struggles she endured while trying to create a life in the south. Sarah overcame so much and grows into a determined entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Review: The artwork is lovely. The story is inspirational to myself and my children. Great introduction to so many topics that are still relevant today.
Possible uses: lessons on jobs or careers. discussion during black history month
awards:none
Summary: The story of Sarah Breedlove Walker who was a born right after slavery was abolished. Tells about the difficulties and struggles she endured while trying to create a life in the south. Sarah overcame so much and grows into a determined entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Review: The artwork is lovely. The story is inspirational to myself and my children. Great introduction to so many topics that are still relevant today.
Possible uses: lessons on jobs or careers. discussion during black history month
December 23, 2010
A truly enjoyable picture book about an amazing woman. The story was well written, giving the reader (and listener) just enough insight to truly appreciate all that she endured to become a successful African American business woman in the early 20th century. Additionally, the illustrations truly enhance one's appreciation for and understanding of the story. Well worth the time spent.
March 10, 2011
A good telling of an African-American woman who was successful in spite of daunting odds. Born in Mississippi two years after the end of slavery, Sarah Breedlove formed a thriving business selling hair products for black consumers. In a time with limited opportunities for both blacks and women, her accomplishments were very impressive. Nice, realistic illustrations create a feel for the times.
September 22, 2012
Great story of a woman who did things she wasn't supposed to do, ignored restrictive traditions, and became incredibly successful while helping other women do the same thing. Sarah Breedlove Walker created her own hair-strengthening tonics and defied the conventions of advertising, which glorified white women's hair and told black women their hair was "bad."
December 2, 2012
This would be an excellent story to read during a study on biographies or to have in the classroom library during a unit on choosing careers or discussing business. I would also read this book during a study of the antebellum period in American history since the beginning does a great job describing the issues which faced families after the civil war.
January 27, 2010
This is a book about Sarah Breedlove Walker. She belived color people should have rights. She made her own hair product, too. She was a brave, confident women and this is a wonderful book. It is a picture book, so it is great for all ages.
April 10, 2012
The pictures and idea of the story were great, but it was too long to read to my 4 and 5 years-old children. I learned much I didn't know about Sarah Breedlove Walker, but sadly, I know my children wouldn't have enjoyed this book unless I edited it.
July 24, 2016
Well-written and a very inspiring true story of a black woman who owned her own business and strived to help others become empowered and successful. This is a book that I will be reading to my 2nd and 4th graders.
January 9, 2017
This told the story of Madam Walker from childhood on. I liked that the attention to hair didn't seem random; hair and hairstyles were first mentioned in the childhood sections.
There was a lot of focus on Madam Walker's work to empower other Black women and her communities.
There was a lot of focus on Madam Walker's work to empower other Black women and her communities.
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May 19, 200892 Wal
December 1, 2008
Kid-friendly bio of Madam C.J. Walker. Well-written with great illustrations.
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February 22, 2012children
May 7, 2012
Madame Walker is a fantastic role model - she never gave up, and she gave back to her community. This is a gorgeously illustrated biography great for middle and upper elementary students.
May 8, 2012
A well-written story about a woman who wouldn't settle for the way things were.
November 17, 2012
This is a very well written story of the life of Sarah Breedlove Walker. We were all blown away by the story of this amazing woman.
February 14, 2013
Another outstanding Lasky biography, depicting the social and personal history of a woman who achieved commercial success that was in her time comparable to Oprah's in modern times.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews