Bea Breaks Barriers! By Caitlin DeLems; Illustrated by Tonya Engel

Bea Breaks Barriers!

How Florence Beatrice Price’s Music Triumphed Over Prejudice

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Published by (2024-10-29)

Here is the little-known story of Florence Beatrice “Bea” Price, who faced many obstacles, including systemic racism and sexism, as she pushed forward to become one of the greatest Black classical composers.

Florence Beatrice “Bea” Price loved music from a young age. When she wasn’t practicing on the piano, she tapped her feet, drummed her fingers, and whistled. Growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas, she was surrounded by Negro spirituals, classical music, Juba dance rhythms, and folk songs and even had the chance to play piano with John William “Blind” Boone. But as a young Black girl living in the South, Bea wasn’t offered the same chances as white children. Not allowed to perform in public, Bea’s first recital was in her living room. But Bea was not deterred. She studied hard, rose to the top of her class, and was accepted to the New England Conservatory of Music—one of two Black students—and majored in both music and composition. Bea never forgot her roots and wove all kinds of musical genres into her musical compositions and spirituals.

Book Details

Format: Hardcover
Price: 24.99 CAD / 18.99 USD
Published: 2024-10-29
ISBN: 9781635924275
Imprint:
Page Count: 48
Trim Size: 10 x 11
Grades:
Ages:

“A tribute to the perseverance of an underrecognized Black composer…Bea Price’s contributions to the musical world surely warrant a biography, and this one makes a strong case for her impressive body of music. Relying on a pastel palette and precise period details, Engel’s delicate illustrations bring both warmth and energy to the narrative. A much-needed account.” Kirkus Reviews

“Readers enticed by this remembrance to seek out [Price’s] music won’t be disappointed.” –Booklist

“The book celebrates Price’s awe-inspiring determination and talent, offering a compelling look at a woman who broke barriers in classical music. VERDICT This is an engaging introduction to an important, often overlooked figure in Black history and a great choice for children’s music education or Women’s or Black History Month.” – School Library Journal

"Through snappy sentences and sonorous diction, DeLems imbues this text with musicality, while Engel’s acrylic and oil paintings emphasize movement and light in a biography that zooms in on the figure’s career triumphs." —Publishers Weekly

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