Make Meatballs Sing: The Life & Art of Corita Kent

Burgess’s captivating picture book biography of Sister Corita Kent (1918–1986) tells the story of a person and an artist always in a state of becoming: “Nothing is a mistake. There’s no win and no fail. There’s only make.” From her working-class California childhood to her vocation as a nun, her introduction to screen printing through María Sodi de Ramos Martínez, and her interest in marketing messaging and material culture, Burgess shows how Kent’s art grew out of her life and time: “For Corita, art and activism and protest and celebration were connected.” Throughout, Kramer’s illustration style shifts, subtly mirroring Kent’s evolution as an artist by layering in signature motifs from her art—block-print letters, collage-like composition, screen print textures, and bright color—that reveal Kent’s awareness of the world around her. It’s a thoughtfully rendered introduction to an endlessly inspiring artist. Back matter includes a timeline and creators’ notes. Ages 7–up. (July)