You have to be kidding me: an orange rope in the ocean that divide WHITE/COLORED sections! The story of MaVynee Betsch needs to be told to a much wider audience. Acclaimed opera singer, Civil Rights Activist and environmentalist - MaVynee Betsch fought on so many fronts of inequality. Beautiful art makes this a book that belongs on any child's shelf - highest recommendation. The author reads /Saving American Beach - Read Aloud With Author Heidi Tyline King | Brightly Storytime Together/ on YouTu...

Absolutely stunning illustrations, created with acrylics and collage using patterns fashioned from stencils and stamps that were handmade, fill the pages of this picture book and show the beauty of the ocean and beach near Jacksonville, Florida. I had never heard of MaVynee Betsch and her fight to save American Beach before reading this engaging picture book. She grew up during the period in history where beaches were segregated. Her great-grandfather bought a beach where anyone could go. It bec...

Interesting story about an African American woman Mavynee Betsch who was a successful opera singer. When her mother becomes sick, she returns to her childhood home and spends the rest of her life as an activist and environmentalist (view spoiler)[and it appears in solitude (hide spoiler)], but is anyone listening?

A moving and informative biography of Black opera singer and environmentalist MaVynee Betsch. Ekua Holmes' illustrations are incredible as always. White author, Black illustrator.

Beautiful illustrations and an inspiring tale of activism. A must read. The whole family enjoyed the history and environmentalism in this picture book.

Such an important topic and the illustrations were gorgeous—I just wish the writing had been better.

Fabulous picture book bio of someone that I had never heard of before, but now I'm glad I have. Loved the art (enough that I'm looking up the illustrator's other works) and we learn from a note at the end that a lot of the choices were made very deliberately and thoughtfully. This would be a great read when talking about important women, important Black Americans, or even just environmentalism. The text was well-edited and concise instead of being chunks of text on each page - this makes it so m...

I love when picture books teach me something about history that I had no clue about. This book made me want to visit American Beach in Florida, which is now part of the National Park Service for being a beach that Black Americans could visit during the Jim Crow era.

Ekua Holmes is the creator of the stunning, lush illustrations in this lyrical, melodically written picture book biography of an opera-singing African American environmentalist and activist who saved American Beach in Florida, established during the Jim Crow era as a place free of segregation.

American Beach is a beach on the Atlantic coast of northern Florida - just above Jacksonville. I have driven along the Florida coast through Jacksonville many times, but I have never heard of American Beach. Or MaVynee Betsch. So I am happy that the author wrote this book so I could meet this remarkable woman and learn about the beach. Her great-grandfather. Abraham Lincoln Lewis, purchased the beach in the 1930s so African Americans could, as he stated, enjoy “recreation and relaxation without

Beautifully illustrated and inspiring. This book will send you down a magnificent rabbit hole. I loved it!

A gem! This is the story of how a talented, unique, and determined lady spearheaded a movement to save a very special beach. We need more biographies of African-American defenders of the environment. This one is perfect for a tie-in with Black History, Earth Day, or just because.

A gorgeous book about activism, civil rights, and the environment.

Fascinating! I had never heard of Betsch or American Beach and I am so glad I now know about them.

This remarkable and beautifully illustrated children’s book tells the history of American Beach on Amelia Island in northeast Florida; the story is told through the eyes of MaVynee Betsch, granddaughter of the man who created the beach (A.L. Lewis). From 1935 forward, American Beach was one of the few Black beaches available in the segregated South, and Betsch grew up experiencing it as the center of a vibrant coastal community that attracted such Black luminaries as Zora Neale Hurston, Ray Char...

A beautiful and fascinating picture book biography of opera singer/environmentalist Mavynee Betsch.We stayed on Amelia Island this past spring and a park ranger told us the story of American Beach and the "beach lady" who saved it. We were fascinated and went to visit the beach. It is such a historically rich and interesting story but one that seems largely unnoticed. There is a historical marker and a sign on the main road but very little else seems to be there. I can't help but feel the island...

Fail! I knew that my “year of no picture books” would fail since Patricia Polacco has a new picture book coming out this October, but I was hoping that would be my only lapse. I found out about this book just today from an email and it was so appealing to me that I checked to see if I could borrow a library e-copy and I was able to get a Kindle edition.4-1/2 stars – a half star off because I was a bit discomfited by the end and parts toward the end, though the note at the end helped me feel bett...

As I was drawn into the story I was both inspired and amazed, and left wondering, "How have I not heard this story before? How many more stories like this are out there? Who will tell them?"

Teachers...grab your copy today! As an educator who works with students of all ages, my mind raced with the many activities which could be presented to students as I read this inspiring story and the topics addressed on these pages. From equity for all, to protecting our beautiful earth, the learning possibilities are endless. Both words and illustrations are inspiring, leaving the reader with a desire to make the world a better place.

Saving American Beach: The Biography of African American Environmentalist Mavynee Betsch is a children's picture book written by Heidi Tyline King and illustrated by Ekua Holmes. It centers on an unsung American hero who used her voice to preserve the natural spaces she loved.MaVynee Betsch was an American environmentalist and an activist. She was better known as The Beach Lady, because she spent the better part of her adult life educating the public on the black history and environmental import...