Clementine Hunter

Although a lengthy 48 pages, Talking with Tebe sheds light into Clementine Hunter' life. She lived an optimistic life and much later did quite well for herself despite her being a slave. She eventually became a house maid/cook for a rich couple who later began endorsing her art. Her paintings were very personal and depicted various aspects of her life. She painted on literally anything she could get her hands on--from random wood to the side of a milk jug. This book captivated me, so it held my attention. Something I really liked about this book is that it's told from Tebe's perspective as if she was talking. I almost heard her talking because the grammar and accent was so descriptive; it gave it an authenticity which made this book more special. I thought she was humble, and I thought she was mean in the funniest way. She explained how she once told some white, barefoot rednecks that Clementine Hunter lived down the road a way just because she didn't want them to see her art! Ha! I don't recommend this book for children because there are a few instances where there's a tragedy and she sounds so nonchalant and apathetic about it. Who wouldn't show sympathy for a baby burning in a crib fire?! Maybe she was more immune to sad events given her and her people's life conditions. Anyway, I actually liked this book and found great interest in her life.… (més)

Hunter, C., & Lyons, M. E. (1998). Talking with Tebé: Clementine Hunter, memory artist. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.
Grades 4 through 6
Clementine Hunter, or Tebé as her family called her, lived a long life marked by poverty and hard work. In her paintings, however, Hunter portrayed her tough existence in bright, beautiful colors that did not seek to hide her plight but instead to acknowledge and honor it. Hunter lived her whole life in Louisiana and worked at the Melrose plantation for over 70 years. She picked cotton and pecans, married twice, and gave birth to seven children—two stillborn. She started painting after being given old tubes of paint to throw away. Instead, she kept them; she took them to her cabin and painted her first picture on a shoebox top. She was a prolific artist—a title she never embraced—and painted until she died at the age of 101.

Talking with Tebé is an autobiography that Clementine Hunter never intended to write. Mary E. Lyons compiled magazine and newspaper articles and many interviews with Hunter to create a biography told in Hunter’s own words. Lyons organizes Hunter’s accounts into chronological and thematic order to create short chapters illustrated by pictures and the artist’s own art. By keeping Hunter’s Creole accent and remaining faithful to her language, infused with the grammar characteristic of West African languages, Lyons allows Hunter’s self to come through to the audience. What readers hear as they read Hunter’s patchwork of words is a powerful story about family, pride, tenacity, and art from a woman whose main purpose in life was to live with dignity. Lyons does an exceptional job in reconstruction Hunter’s life from articles and interviews, creating an authentic and accurate picture of her subject. Talking with Tebé: Clementine Hunter, memory artist is a great addition to any classroom and school library. Children will see in Hunter someone whose indomitable spirit carried her through a tough but fulfilling life. The biography lends itself well to discussions about the origin and value of art, language, social inequality, and the power of one person’s spirit.… (més)

Clementine Hunter should be an inspiration to young readers. She found something that she was passionate about, and was lucky enough to become famous from it. One thing that is evident from her writing, though, is that she painted because it helped her work through situations in her life. She did not paint for the fame or money.

I would include this in any unit on Louisiana artists, folk art, women's history, and African American history. Hunter's art is a treasure, but her passion is what really shines through in this book.… (més)