Off the Wall - by Theodore Taylor (Hardcover)

About the Book

Missing the city life, a young girl starts to feel a sense of belonging in her new town when she discovers vibrant graffiti splashed throughout the neighborhoods, proving street art can be found everywhere--as well as a sense of home.

Book Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling illustrator Theodore Taylor III comes a vibrant ode to street art, a picture book about a child discovering all of the beauty--and art--her new neighborhood has to offer.

Shapes moving in every direction,
letters weaving in and out,
bright colors jumping off of the wall.

It was like a language from another
planet that only I could understand.

Graffiti.

In this bright, colorful, and movement-filled picture book Off the Wall, a young girl moves with her family from the big city to a small town. She feels odd and out of place until a stroll down the street hits her with echoes from home: vibrant graffiti splashed against the wall. But when it's painted over that sense of belonging is lost, until an afternoon's adventure shows her that street art can be found everywhere--as well as a sense of home.

In his exceptional author-illustrated debut, Theodore Taylor III has crafted an ode to street art, a stunning celebration of a much-maligned art form and all the beauty it brings to a neighborhood.

Review Quotes

"Taylor's vibrant, explosive illustrations vividly capture street art's dynamism in a palette with purple and gold highlights. Celebrating kids, art, and supportive communities, this gem deserves a wide audience." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Part fish-out-of-water story, part ode to street art, this vibrant offering will grab readers' attention." --Horn Book, starred review

"The illustrations are vibrantly colorful. While an afterword states that the author is not a graffiti artist, the works he creates within this book jump off the page. A worthy addition to any collection, provocative and perfect for starting conversations about the definition of art, its many forms, as well as its gatekeepers." --School Library Journal

About the Author

Theodore Taylor III is a children's book author and illustrator living in Richmond, Virginia with his wife Sarah and son Theo. He is the illustrator of Woke, Woke Baby, and the New York Times bestselling C is for Country by Lil Was X. He also received the Coretta Scott King John Steptoe New Talent Award for his work on When The Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop. He is also the illustrator behind Shaquille O'Neal's Little Shaq Series. During the day he also works as a front-end web developer. His work is inspired by his love of music, comics, animation, video games, street art, and more. He is also a self-proclaimed pizza connoisseur. Theodore3.com