Luci Soars
BOOK OVERVIEW
Luci was born without a shadow. Mamá says no one notices. But Luci does. And sometimes others do too. Sometimes they stare, sometimes they tease Luci, and sometimes they make her cry. But when Luci learns to look at what makes her different as a strength, she realizes she has more power than she ever thought. And that her differences can even be a superpower.
A heartfelt and uplifting story with a timeless message: what sets you apart is often what makes you great.
The process
ABOUT THE STORY
I often get ideas standing in front of a painting. There was something about shadows in the René Magritte exhibit I went to in 2016. One of his paintings depicted a girl casting the shadow of a bird. It made me wonder what had happened to her original shadow. Did she ever have one? In art school I learned to always add the suggestion of a shadow to ground the objects I draw. So, what if there is a girl born without a shadow? Will others accept her? Will she accept herself? Is her difference a handicap or an asset? To answer these questions I wrote Luci Soars.
ABOUT THE ART
From the moment I started writing the story, I saw Luci's world going from one in black and white to one in full color. I chose monoprints for the technique of the book. I wanted to add interest to the black and white images with layers of textures. Painting on glass and transferring the image onto paper allowed for varied textures. At times there were mistakes that added to the richness of the image. Each of black and white texture and each color required a different layer of paint on the glass.
For a for a step-by-step tutorial on this unique printmaking process head to #MetKids, at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Heroes and Superpowers!
Before the visit I send an activity kit to help the students think about the theme of this program. On the day of the visit I talk about the art of Turning Pages by Sonia Sotomayor. I read aloud Luci Soars and discuss why and how I created it. I give a live tour of my studio. We end by sharing our own superpowers on screen in words or pictures. (Virtual Program)
reviews + AWARDS
Las Comadres and Friends National Latino Book Club 2020 Books of the Year List
“★ Simple and powerful…a great read-aloud for educators to discuss emotions, bullying, acceptance of differences, self-esteem and empowerment.” –Youth Services Book Reviews, starred review
“Lulu Delacre (Us, in Progress) knows how to balance text and art to achieve memorable literary results….Through her vivid new hero, Delacre encourages young audiences to step out from judgmental, unwelcoming shadows and soar.”–Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon
“This urban fable encourages readers to claim their space”–Kirkus Reviews
“Highly recommended for kindergarten, preschool, elementary and public library collections.”–Oregon Coast Youth Book Preview Center
“The most powerful aspect of this book is the idea that we can change how we look at things, and in that way, change how we see ourselves.”–Nashville Public Library Reviews
“This is a lovely fable with stunning illustrations”– Jean Little Library
“Excellent, unique addition to any leisure reader's collection.”–Children’s Bookwatch, The Midwest Book Review