What a lovely touch and a promising beginning. This shade of lavender immediately conjures up fragrant, early-summer wedding flowers. Not that I wasn’t prepared to love any book by the masterful Floyd Cooper, but what an inspired choice of color. The Ring Bearer had me at the lavender endpapers. I find myself stopping to look at the colors, naming them, appreciating their nuances and blending, made more eye-catching because of his style. I get the idea, but this is sophisticated work, beyond a layperson, and I suspect, many artists. I’ve pored over his books trying to picture the process of washing color onto canvas and then erasing away layers to create the illustrations. I do not fully understand HOW his subtractive style works. The art he creates for his books is distinctive and unique. His contributions to American art and culture feel vital always, but especially when there are still too few African American authors’ and illustrators’ voices in U.S. Cooper captures each moment.I have long admired Floyd Cooper’s books.

A solid purchase for any picture book collection.'-School Library Journal 'Many children experience parental weddings, and these times are filledwith joy and nervousness. A heartening, reassuring picture book.'-Booklist 'Children will identify readily with Jackson’s fears and enjoy the way he overcomes them. Readers will be joining the congregation in cheering for Jackson.'-Kirkus Reviews 'Written with simplicity, immediacy, and warmth.Cooper creates beautiful effects with subtle colors, textures, and suffused light in the soft-focus paintings.

Praise for The Ring Bearer: 'Throughout, Cooper's softly textured mixed-media illustrations offer a warm, affirming depiction of this black family's life and love together. In a celebration of blended families, this heartwarming story, stunningly illustrated by the award-winning Floyd Cooper, is a perfect gift for any child who's nervous to walk down the aisle at a wedding, and shows kids that they can handle life’s big changes.

What if he trips? Or walks too slowly? Or drops the rings? And what about his new stepsister, Sophie? She’s supposed to be the flower girl, but Jackson’s not sure she’s taking her job as seriously as she should. Jackson’s mama is getting married, and he gets to be the ring bearer. Mama’s getting married, and Jackson has an important job to do! A story about love, weddings, and the special joy that is a blended family.

The Ring Bearer by Floyd Cooper