Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment

When Parker visits the museum with her mom and friend she is captivated by the portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama, a picture that inspires self-assurance and hope within herself.
In a story inspired by the young author’s viral photo of her awestruck response to First Lady Michelle Obama’s portrait, a young girl visits Washington, D.C.’s National Portrait Gallery and finds her life transformed by the historical examples of its subjects. 50,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations.
"This book is based on the viral photograph of African American toddler Parker Curry, who, during a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, became mesmerized by Amy Sherald's portrait of Michelle Obama, who she thought was a queen.
A New York Times bestseller! A visit to Washington, DCs National Portrait Gallery forever alters Parker Currys young life when she views First Lady Michelle Obamas portrait.When Parker Curry came face-to-face with Amy Sheralds transcendent portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama at the National Portrait Gallery, she didnt just see the First Lady of the United States. She saw a queen one with dynamic self-assurance, regality, beauty, and truth who captured this young girls imagination. When a nearby museum-goer snapped a photo of a mesmerized Parker, it became an internet sensation. Inspired by this visit, Parker, and her mother, Jessica Curry, tell the story of a young girl and her family, whose trip to a museum becomes an extraordinary moment, in a moving picture book. Parker Looks Up follows Parker, along with her baby sister and her mother, and her best friend Gia and Gias mother, as they walk the halls of a museum, seeing paintings of everyone and everything from George Washington Carver to Frida Kahlo, exotic flowers to graceful ballerinas. Then, Parker walks by Sheralds portrait of Michelle Obama and almost passes it. But she stops...and looks up! Parker saw the possibility and promise, the hopes and dreams of herself in this powerful painting of Michelle Obama. An everyday moment became an extraordinary one that continues to resonate its power, inspiration, and indelible impact. Because, as Jessica Curry said, anything is possible regardless of race, class, or gender. **FOREWORD BY ARTIST AMY SHERALD**