Mae Makes a Way - by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Smithsonian. National Museum of African American History & Culture."

Book Synopsis

Tip your hat to fashion designer and civil rights icon Mae Reeves in this picture book biography written in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture!

"A fine introduction to a determined trailblazer." -The New York Times

Mae had a dream to make one-of-a-kind hats. But the path for a Black female designer was unclear, so Mae made a way, leaving her home in the segregated South to study at the Chicago School of Millinery.

Mae had the skills, but craved the independence to create her own styles. So Mae found a way. In Philadelphia, she became the first Black woman to own a business on South Street. Whether you were Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Marian Anderson or a lady from the neighborhood, Mae wanted you to look good and feel special in one of her original hats.

A mother, a successful entrepreneur, and a community advocate, Mae led the way.

Published in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, acclaimed author Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich (Two Naomis) and award-winning illustrator Andrea Pippins (I Love My Hair) bring the life of fashion entrepreneur and civic organizer Mae Reeves to the page. And when you are done reading, explore Mae's store and styles in person at her permanent exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Review Quotes

"A fine introduction to a determined trailblazer." --The New York Times

"A vital piece of literature that documents an amazing woman who continuously persevered despite racial disparities." --Booklist

About the Author

Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich is the author of Operation Sisterhood, 8th Grade Superzero, and the nonfiction books Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow, Someday Is Now: Clara Luper and the 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-Ins, and Saving Earth: The Climate Crisis and the Fight for Our Future. She is the coauthor of the middle-grade novel Two Naomis, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award, and its sequel, Naomis Too. Olugbemisola is a member of the Brown Bookshelf and a former board member of We Need Diverse Books. She lives with her family in New York City, where she writes, makes things, and needs to get more sleep. You can find her online at olugbemisolabooks.com.

Andrea Pippins is an illustrator and author with a passion for creating images that reflect what she wants to see in art, media, and design. Her work has been featured in Essence, the New York Times, and O: The Oprah Magazine. She has produced artwork for brands such as ESPN, Five Below, Instagram, Sephora, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Malala Fund, Nick Jr., USPS, and VH1. Andrea is the author of Who Will You Be? a look at the life of a boy and the people in his community who shape him; Becoming Me, an interactive journal for young women to color, doodle, and brainstorm their way to a creative life; and We Inspire Me, a collection of essays, interviews, and advice on cultivating and empowering one's own creative community. She also illustrated Young Gifted and Black, Step into Your Power, and Big Ideas for Young Thinkers. Learn more about Andrea on her website andreapippins.com.