I heard Dr. Maya Angelou speak on National Public Radio about the recent release, Maya Angelou: A Glorious Celebration, that celebrates eighty years of her life. My first indulgence in the captivating words of Maya Angelou was her bestselling book I Know Why Caged Birds Sing, which inspired my heart to believe in a woman’s ability to stand triumphant with dignity and determination.

In Maya Angelou: A Glorious Celebration, an intimate portrayal of a woman loved by many, is depicted through the eyes of her niece, Rosa Johnson Butler, and close friends, Richard A. Long and founding editor of Essence Marcia Ann Gillespie. Bold, bright illustrations celebrate Angelou’s life, with never-before-seen journal entries and personal photos. OprahWinfrey captivates the reader’s attention with marvelous observations and loving thoughts about Angelou in the book’s foreword:

“She has a certain way of being in the world. When you walk into a room and she’s there, you know it. She is fully aware of what it is to be human, and to share that humanity with others.”

“My mother has had a more profound influence on me since I've been an adult than she did as a child. I've come to the conclusion that some adults are not really qualified to be parents of young children. They make much better parents of adults. My mother is that type.”

I absolutely loved this read, a beautiful keepsake book which invites conversation between friends, which nurtured my own spirit and stretched my imagination to believe in even the unimaginable. You intimately understand after this read that Angelou can and does light up a room.

Personal portrayals of Angelou - the humanitarian, acclaimed poet, bestselling author, playwright, mother and friend - are woven throughout the canvas of A beautiful keepsake book which invites conversation between friends. She is a flower that stands out for the world to witness, and once you encounter her, the viewer knows that she is one of kind.