André André Leon Talley--A Fabulously Fashionable Fairy Tale - Hardcover

by Carole Boston Weatherford (Author), Rob Sanders (Author), Lamont O'Neal (Illustrator)

A Coretta Scott King 2026 Illustrator Honor Book

★ "Fashion king Talley is brought to tender, glorious life by the award-winning team of Weatherford and Sanders"--Booklist, starred review

★"...sure to inspire young fashion-lovers--especially any who feel like outsiders."--BCCB, starred review

This captivating biography chronicles the remarkable journey of fashion legend André Leon Talley-from humble beginnings in rural North Carolina to the pinnacle of the international world of fashion.

Growing up in the Jim Crow South wasn't easy for young André. He escaped into the glimmering worlds he discovered inside magazines like Ebony and Vogue. He fell in love with all things French, and honed his taste for elegance and style in spite of those who judged and bullied him. Standing tall against all odds, André spun his hardships into a fashion fairytale of his own making.

With exuberant prose and luminous illustrations, this picture book biography shares the inspiring story of majestic icon André Leon Talley and his enduring legacy.

Author Biography

Carole Boston Weatherford is the award-winning author of more than 50 books of poetry, nonfiction, and children's literature. She is the recipient of a Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Author Honor, two NAACP Image Awards, a WNDB Walter Award, and numerous other accolades. Her books include I, Matthew Henson; Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive; and Be a King. She resides in North Carolina where she teaches at Fayetteville State University.

Rob Sanders is an acclaimed writer who teaches, and a teacher who writes. He is the author of Cowboy Christmas, Crystal Kite-winner Outer Space Bedtime Race, Ruby Rose - Off to School She Goes, Ruby Rose - Big Bravos, Rodzilla, Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights, and Mayor Pete: The Story of Pete Buttigieg. Rob lives in Florida where he teaches elementary school.

Lamont O'Neal began drawing as a child, inspired by comic books and fashion magazines. He has been published in nearly every aspect of the fashion world, including the magazines Cosmopolitan, New York, GQ, and Essence. His list of fashion designer clients includes Oscar de la Renta, American Eagle and Polo Ralph Lauren. His credits include portraiture, children's books and illustrations. He lives and draws in Yardley, Pennsylvania.