{"product_id":"willi-ninja-vogue-legend","title":"Willi Ninja \/\/ Vogue Legend","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Exquisitely deep in vogue.\" —\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKicking off a picture book series of LGBTQ+ biographies is this inspiring story of the incomparable dancer Willi Ninja, Grandfather of Vogue and star of the film\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eParis Is Burning.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen little Willi Leake watched karate movies with his mother in their cozy Queens apartment, he’d slice the air with his arms like swords. He’d swish his hips like the models he saw in magazines and copy ancient pharaohs’ poses from Egyptian hieroglyphs. Bursting with energy, Willi would strut his way down the street, and his mother would tell him not to mind the puzzled looks he’d get. When she took him to the Apollo Theater to watch ballerinas twirling, Willi allowed himself to dream—and the more he dreamed, the more he danced. With an accessible text and dynamic illustrations, Joy Michael Ellison and Nabi H. Ali trace Willi’s path against the odds as he brings his signature moves to the dance style known as vogue and finds his spotlight at the Harlem drag balls where a performer known as Willi Ninja is born. Providing context, community, and comprehension of queer and trans culture for young history buffs, the lively narrative is followed by back matter delving into more details about Willi Ninja and what life was like during his time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eJoy Michael Ellison\u003c\/b\u003e is a writer, professor, and activist. Their published books include \u003ci\u003eSylvia and Marsha Start\u003c\/i\u003e a \u003ci\u003eRevolution!\u003c\/i\u003e. Their political commentary has been featured in \u003ci\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eColumbus Alive\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eMatter News\u003c\/i\u003e. You can find their creative writing in the \u003ci\u003eBaltimore Review, Story Club Magazine, \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Lunch Ticket\u003c\/i\u003e, to name a few publications. When not writing, teaching, or organizing, Joy Michael Ellison loves watching birds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNabi H. Ali\u003c\/b\u003e is a Tamil American illustrator who enjoys creating diverse works that showcase an array of cultures and people. They have illustrated the picture books \u003ci\u003eLove Is Here with You: A Lullaby of Blessings \u003c\/i\u003eby Jyoti Rajan Gopal, \u003ci\u003eWe Move the World \u003c\/i\u003eby Kari Lavelle, \u003ci\u003eBeautifully Me \u003c\/i\u003eby Nabela Noor, \u003ci\u003eLaxmi’s Mooch \u003c\/i\u003eby Shelly Anand, and \u003ci\u003eAll the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything \u003c\/i\u003eby Annette Bay Pimentel, among others. They also illustrated the graphic novel \u003ci\u003eMs. Marvel: Stretched Thin\u003c\/i\u003e by Nadia Shammas and the middle-grade fantasy novel \u003ci\u003eShakti\u003c\/i\u003e by SJ Sindu. Nabi H. Ali lives in California.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublisher: Candlewick\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublish Date: May 05, 2026\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePages: 48\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLanguage: English\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eType: Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEAN\/UPC: 9781536230086\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimensions: 10.9 X 9.5 X 0.4 inches | 1.1 pounds\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBISAC Categories: Kids\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Joy Michael Ellison","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48230649266411,"sku":"9781536230086","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0253\/4014\/9820\/files\/9781536230086.jpg?v=1778249921","url":"https:\/\/rep.club\/products\/willi-ninja-vogue-legend","provider":"Reparations Club","version":"1.0","type":"link"}