Saving American Beach is available at your favorite book store or you can order here:
Winner of
★ 2022 American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
★ Black Caucus American Library Association Best of the Best 2021 Booklist
★ 2022 American Library Association Top Ten Sustainability Themed Children’s Books
★ 2023 Alabama Library Association’s Children’s Author of the Year Award
★ 2023 State of Rhode Island Children’s Book Award Nominee
★ 2023 Florida Chapter of the Library of Congress Center for the Book’s selection for the National Book Festival.
Featured in the New York Times, this five-starred debut picture book by Heidi Tyline King and illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Ekua Holmes tells the story of MaVynee Betsch, an African American opera singer turned environmentalist and the integral piece of American history that she preserved.
★ Time Magazine: “14 Actually Good Books to Teach Kids About Climate Change”
★ “King crafts musical prose, skillfully connecting Betsch’s musical career with her love of the beach. Caldecott Honoree Holmes’s art, rendered in acrylic and collage, incorporates patterns created from handmade stencils and stamps, resulting in richly multilayered illustrations. A moving portrayal of a little-known preservationist.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “Holmes’ stunning, intricately composed paint-and-collage images bring MaVynee to life in full color . . . making each spread visually rich, realistic, and fascinating. King’s storytelling, Holmes’ artwork, and informative backmatter portray MaVynee Betsch as the larger-than-life Black environmentalist she was. A spectacular story about a little-known eco-warrior whose story should be told and retold. —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “This lushly illustrated picture-book biography tells the story of MaVynee Betsch, an opera-singing African American environmentalist and activist . . . Holmes’ vibrant, multilayered collages aptly evoke the ocean and shifting sands, and are especially effective in capturing MaVynee’s determined stance, her brilliant outfits, and her seven-foot-long tresses. . . This story of a wealthy, sophisticated, talented, and larger-than-life activist deserves a wide audience.” —Booklist, starred review
★ “What a treat to read this beautiful picture book! This title conveys the life story of largely uncelebrated opera singer and environmentalist, MaVynee Betsch. . . Ekua Holmes’ illustrations are bright with vivid colors that enrich the wonder of the beach and the changes that remade MaVynee as a person. Holmes’ artistry enhances the wonder of the beach, MaVynee’s environmental crusade, and the historical significance of the story. This book provides is an inspirational view into a rare piece of Floridian and African American history. Students will want to research this amazing woman. With included additional notes from the author and illustrator, this will be a welcome addition to any elementary school library.” —School Library Connection, starred review
★ Debut picture book author King's engaging text gracefully pairs with Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner and Caldecott Honoree Ekua Holmes's acrylic and collage illustrations. —Shelf-Awareness, starred review