Curve & Flow

October 24, 2022
Loney emphasizes perseverance in this detailed account of Paul R. Williams’s (1894–1980) path to “Architect to the Stars.” Williams began drawing buildings as a child, but while he could “see his future as clearly as a blueprint,” others warned that finding success as a Black architect would be impossible. After crashing “right into the big stone wall of racism,” Williams finds ways to “curve and flow” around it, winning contests, opening his own firm, and starting a bank for the Black community. Using historical language, Loney lays bare the injustice and prejudice Williams encounters in designing structures he’s not allowed to enter as a patron, and erecting homes in neighborhoods he must leave before sundown. Mallett’s painterly digital renderings have a soft-edged Hollywood glow as they depict Williams working toward his dream; when the subject joins a top architectural firm, he appears among rubble (“Take that, stone wall!”). An author’s note, photos, sources, and timeline conclude. Ages 4–8.

September 1, 2022
Paul R. Williams was born in Los Angeles in 1894; his parents died when he was five, and his brother was sent to a different foster home. Despite this early tragedy, Paul flourished creatively, demonstrating a talent for drawing that blossomed into a career as an architect. By 1921, facing discrimination and prejudice at every turn, he had become the first Black certified architect west of the Mississippi River. Southern California was becoming a cultural mecca, and Williams took advantage of that to put his iconic stamp on many prominent buildings. He didn't stop there, though. He also got into the banking industry to help African Americans overcome the predatory, discriminatory practice of redlining. In 1948, the Supreme Court struck down laws upholding restrictive housing covenants, and Paul was finally free to build his dream house in his desired neighborhood. If "curve and flow" represents elements of Williams's design style, the motto also signifies how he dealt with the obstacles and opportunities he faced in life. Alongside the generally optimistic text, the illustrations reinforce this theme of overcoming adversity. They convey grace, warmth, and dignity with a color palette dominated by purple, gold, blue, brown, and burgundy, and expressive figures who fairly shine and glow. An author's note, sources, photos, and a timeline are appended. Jonathan Hunt

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from December 23, 2022

Gr 2-5-Born in Los Angeles in 1894, Paul R. Williams made his childhood love of drawing buildings into a storied career as the first Black licensed architect west of the Mississippi, curving and flowing around the "big stone wall of racism" to achieve his goals and prove that "sometimes dreams come true." These metaphors and motifs are repeated throughout, along with the realities of racist laws, redlining, and sundown towns, and the unfair irony of Williams designing buildings he was not allowed to live in or patronize. Loney's pacing is beautifully balanced as she tells Williams's life story in the present tense, from childhood to early career, replete with the obstacles, pivots, and successes. Some readers may wonder about the details of his early life (parents' death, sibling separation), but the back matter provides additional information. Mallett has lavished care on the subject and his work, sumptuously and carefully illustrating people and buildings alike in dreamy, realistic style, suffused with golden California light. The gorgeous endpapers showcase maps and postcards of Los Angeles, along with architects' tools. More literal-minded readers might wonder where the "curve and flow" are, as in the many exterior views, the buildings have clean lines and sharp right angles, but one large interior is shown, and curves are evident there. Finishing touches include an author's note, selected sources, photos, and time line. VERDICT This remarkable biography of a talented and determined man is highly recommended.-Jenny Arch

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 1, 2022
Grades K-3 *Starred Review* This is a handsome picture-book biography of pioneering Black architect Paul R. Williams. Orphaned at age four, Williams always knew he wanted to be an architect and dreamed that one day he would build a home for his new family. However, early--twentieth-century Los Angeles was not ready for a Black architect. Williams was known for his distinctive "curve and flow" architectural style, and the powerful text tells how he also curved and flowed around hateful roadblocks: attending five different schools at the same time, learning to sketch upside down and backwards to bring clients' ideas to life right before their eyes, starting a bank to encourage African American homeownership. Besides designing mansions and landmark buildings, the "Architect to the Stars" fought unjust zoning laws and served on President Eisenhower's National Housing Commission. The amazing artwork is detailed and nuanced; back matter includes photos, an author's note, a list of selected resources, and a time line that includes Williams' many honors and accolades. This inspiring account has multiple applications and excels on multiple levels.

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Starred review from October 1, 2022
A portrait of an African American architect who "curved his creativity around the stone wall of racism." The title reflects the course of Williams' career more than his characteristic rectilinear style, but the creators of Take a Picture of Me, James Vanderzee! (2017) again pair a narrative alive with rhythm and rich imagery to equally vibrant pictures to celebrate both the achievements and the character of a (this time) literally groundbreaking Black figure. Writing in present tense for immediacy, Loney gives her subject youthful dreams of building a home that lead him to bend around naysayers and racial prejudice to establish himself as an architect--learning to sketch ideas upside down on the fly to impress White clients across the table, to create structures with a Southern California flair "from paper to pine to paint job," and then "flow[ing] in a different direction" to help found a bank that would lend to Black communities in South LA. Mallett follows Williams from childhood to dignified maturity, catching the overall motif with curving lines, restrained lighting, and slightly softened focus while portraying him here bent over blueprints with glimpses of his work visible over his shoulder, there standing proud with his family before the house he did at last design and build, and, in a final scene, posing with a racially diverse group of smiling Angelenos. Along with a timeline and a select list of sources, the backmatter includes photos of several of the thousands of structures with which he is associated. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An inspiring tribute to a determined dreamer and doer constructed with admirable verve. (author's note) (Picture-book biography. 7-9)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2022
Paul R. Williams was born in Los Angeles in 1894; his parents died when he was five, and his brother was sent to a different foster home. Despite this early tragedy, Paul flourished creatively, demonstrating a talent for drawing that blossomed into a career as an architect. By 1921, facing discrimination and prejudice at every turn, he had become the first Black certified architect west of the Mississippi River. Southern California was becoming a cultural mecca, and Williams took advantage of that to put his iconic stamp on many prominent buildings. He didn't stop there, though. He also got into the banking industry to help African Americans overcome the predatory, discriminatory practice of redlining. In 1948, the Supreme Court struck down laws upholding restrictive housing covenants, and Paul was finally free to build his dream house in his desired neighborhood. If "curve and flow" represents elements of Williams's design style, the motto also signifies how he dealt with the obstacles and opportunities he faced in life. Alongside the generally optimistic text, the illustrations reinforce this theme of overcoming adversity. They convey grace, warmth, and dignity with a color palette dominated by purple, gold, blue, brown, and burgundy, and expressive figures who fairly shine and glow. An author's note, sources, photos, and a timeline are appended.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)