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Hopkins, Lee Bennett. (2010) Amazing Faces. Illustrated by Chris Soentpiet. Lee & Low Books.
For more information about this book and curriculum connections, locate
the November 2010 issue of Library Sparks for the "In the
Spotlight" column featuring Amazing Faces. Column written by Sharron L. McElmeel
On this page the author and illustrator speak further about their creative process.
Index of poetry contained in Amazing Faces
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Amazing Faces represents diversity throughout
America -- and emotions of daily life. The book's arc reaches
from the birth of a baby to people as they age.
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Lee Bennett Hopkins says:
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| I knew from the start the book’s arc would go
from the birth of a baby to people as they age. There is beauty
in youth as in the innocence of young teens in 'Hamburger Heaven';
there is beauty in the surprised face of a mother standing in a doorway
as her young son returns from war in Prince Redcloud’s "A Young
Soldier"; and there is such beauty in faces of the aged. J. Patrick
Lewis captures this in his tender "Abuela" about a grandmother whose
face is "a lacework of courage…Her cheeks, soft antiques of the sun…".
Such beautiful lines to describe a loving grandmother who "is everyone
/Of us come from otherwhere….". Goosebump words!
(quoted from a written interview with Lee Bennett Hopkins - June 1, 2010)
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Chris Soentpiet used watercolors to create the portraits for this book.
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| Painting with watercolors can be very
difficult, especially painting faces. I use watercolors because
I’m able to achieve bright colors by layering them. There are
many elements that must come together in order to create a beautiful
illustration. For example: Composition, luminous lighting, emotion and
expressions on faces.
One way to achieve details in my painting is to control the amount of
water that is applied to the painting. Also using a very, very
fine point brush helps. I paint 20% bigger than the book size
because the painting must fit on the drums scan when the book is
printed. I would love to paint bigger. The larger the
painting, the greater detail I’m able to execute. Many of the
paintings I produce have great amount of details, but each object is
choreographed with a specific purpose, and not randomly
distributed.
Like words, each element must count. A typical
painting would take about 2-3 weeks. I paint over 8 hours a day
in silence. The last poem “My People” took a month and a half to finish.
We wanted to vary the poems not only in gender, but in ethnicity.
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We
also wanted to evenly spread the race throughout the book. This
was a bit of challenging. To spread the race and gender, while keeping
the theme of age progression through out the book. And in the end I
wanted all the races to be represented. Even though the final poem ‘My
People“ by Langston Hughes, was about the African-American
experience. We felt the poem was about all of America. Now where
does a large group of people of all races, gender, and age gather in a
festive occasion? I came up with fireworks. I have been to many
firework celebrations in New York City and all races, gender and age
come to gather to these events. It is truly a melting pot,
especially in New York City. Plus the fireworks allows me to paint
beautiful lighting effects on their amazing faces.
(quoted from a written interview with Chris Soentpiet - June 6, 2010)
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Index of Poems included in Amazing Faces
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Poet
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First Line
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Rebecca Kai Dotlich
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"Amazing Face"
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Amazing, your face.
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Kam Mak
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from "My Chinatown"
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Twelve hours every day
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Carole Boston Weatherford
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from "Which Way to Dreamland?"
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How in the world do dreams get in your head?
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Jane Medina
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"Me x 2"
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I read times two.
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"Yo x 2"
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Leo por dos.
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Nikki Grimes
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"Miss Stone"
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My wishes gathered like ants.
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Jude Mandell
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"I'm the One"
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I'm the one.
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Jane Yolen
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"Karate Kid"
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I am wind.
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Tom Robert Shields
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"Hero"
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October comes with / Chill air —
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Pat Mora
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"High in the Sky"
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After supper, I sit outside
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Janet S. Wong
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"Living Above Good Fortune"
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I live above Good Fortune
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Lee Bennett Hopkins
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"Hamburger Heaven"
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He looks She looks
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Prince Redcloud
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"A Young Soldier"
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A young soldier
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Mary E. Cronin
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"Firefighter Face"
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Trickles of sweat eetch silvery trails
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Joseph Bruchac
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"Aunt Molly Sky"
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You can read so many things in her face.
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J. Patrick Lewis
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"Abuela"
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Her face, a lacework of courage;
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Langston Hughes
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"My People"
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The night is beautiful.
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