Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery

"A visually striking, enlightening picture-book biography." --Booklist (starred review)
"An absolutely indispensable illustrated biography." --School Library Journal (starred review)
"A well-sourced, stirringly told account of an artist." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"For sports fans and budding artists alike...a well-told, artfully illustrated story." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

A 2019 Orbis Pictus Book Award Winner * An ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book * A SCBWI Golden Kite Honor Book Award * A Booklist Top 10 Biographies for Youth * A Booklist Top 10 Art Books for Youth * A New York Public Library (NYPL) Best Book for Kids * A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book

Discover the remarkable true story of NFL star Ernie Barnes--a boy who followed his dreams and became one of the most influential artists of his generation--with this beautiful and fascinating nonfiction picture book illustrated by four-time Caldecott Honor recipient Bryan Collier.

"An artist paints his own reality." --Ernie Barnes

Ernie Barnes was an NFL football player who longed to make art. Finally his dream came true.

When Ernie Barnes was growing up in North Carolina in the 1940s, he loved to draw. Even when he played as a boy with his friends he drew with a stick in the mud. And he never left home without a sketchbook. He would draw families walking home from church, or the old man on the sofa. He drew what he saw.

But in the segregated south, Ernie didn't know how to make a living as an artist. Ernie grew tall and athletic and became a football star. Soon enough the colleges came calling. Still, in his heart Ernie longed to paint. Would that day ever come?

Ernie Barnes was one of the most important artists of his time known for his style of elongation and movement. His work has influenced a generation of painters and illustrators and can be found in museums and collections, such as the African American Museum in Philadelphia and the California African American Museum.

Between the Lines is a story of inspiration, spirit, and of an American original who pursued his dream. This enchanting picture book includes pieces of artwork created by this little known artist who captured the truth and beauty of the world he saw around him.

Author: Sandra Neil Wallace
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Published: 01/23/2018
Pages: 48
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.30lbs
Size: 12.30h x 9.40w x 0.45d
ISBN: 9781481443876
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 193445 / Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery


Award: Golden Kite - Honor Book


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 11/20/2017
Kirkus Reviews 12/15/2017 pg. 159
School Library Journal 01/01/2018 pg. 102
Booklist 01/01/2018 pg. 72
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 02/01/2018
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2018 pg. 175 - Recommended, Satisfactory

About the Author
Sandra Neil Wallace hopes that her stories inspire readers as much as they inspire her. Her most recent book, Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went From the Football Field to the Art Gallery, illustrated by Bryan Collier, received the Orbis Pictus Book Award, was an ALA Notable Book and a Booklist Top 10 Biography for Youth. Her novel, Muckers, was named a Booklist Top 10 Sports Book for Youth. Formerly, Sandra was an ESPN reporter and was the first woman to host an NHL broadcast. She lives in New Hampshire with her family. You can visit her at SandraNeilWallace.com.

Bryan Collier is a beloved illustrator known for his unique style combining watercolor and detailed collage. He is a four-time Caldecott Honor recipient for Trombone Shorty, Dave the Potter, Martin's Big Words, and Rosa. His books have won many other awards as well, including six Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards. His recent books include By and By, Thurgood, The Five O'Clock Band, and Between the Lines. He lives in New York with his family.