Alvin Ailey, Jr.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-- A concise and interesting biography. A simple overview of ballet and modern dance precedes the discussion of Ailey's life and work. The section on his childhood and youth in a single-parent family during the '30s and '40s is vivid in showing the struggles African-Americans faced. Emphasis is on the rest of his life, showing how greatly he was influenced by these experiences and the civil rights movement of the '60s. Readers also come away with a good feel for Ailey's personality. Topics such as segregation, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the role of a choreographer are explored in side bars that provide background, but they are not as clear as the rest of the text. There are many black-and-white photographs but the reproduction is often poor; the overall format is a little crowded. Be that as it may, there are no other biographies available on Ailey for this age group and this one is an excellent start. --Kay McPherson, Central Atlanta-Fulton Public Library