k e nt u c ky - m a de g i f ts , f o o d + mo r e
THE KENTUCKY GIFT GUIDE 2 0 23 – 2 0 2 4
by Kentucky Monthly Magazine
@mariettas_market
Where the old meets the new...
t e k r a M ’s a t t e Mari vintage, new and handmade items
Enjoy the atmosphere of an old general store while shopping Marietta’s Market, home of the Upton Girl Boutique (a boutique with Southern roots) and Rabbit in the Moon, a children’s boutique. M A R I E T TA S M A R K E T. C O M 11904 Shelbyville Road, Louisville • 502.618.1649 • shipping available
t h e k e nt u c ky g i f t g u i de
PA
GE
4
presented by Kentucky Monthly Magazine
shop Kentucky made.
on the cover
16
WHAT ’S YOUR FAVORITE KENTUCKY MADE PRODUCT? Share a photo @kymonthly
somer se t ca n d le. co m Enhance the ambiance of any room in your home with a fragrant candle from Somerset Candle Company. Perk up the mood or promote tranquility with these vegan, cruelty-free, hand-poured candles, each made with 100 percent virgin coconut soy wax.
18
A D V E R T I S E kentuckymonthly.com ad@kentuckymonthly.com 888.329.0053 Q 502.227.0053 KENTUCKY MONTHLY (ISSN 15420507) is published 10 times per year by Vested Interest Publications, Inc., 100 Consumer Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601. Periodicals Postage Paid at Frankfort, KY and at additional mailing offices.
Kentucky Monthly is printed and distributed by Freeport Press, New Philadelphia, Ohio.
Above, a hand-knit item always makes a thoughtful gift. Madisonville’s Hogtie Knit Goods offers soft, beautiful accessories to keep friends and family toasty warm and stylish. Kentucky Monthly’s mission is to celebrate this wonderful state we call home. What better way to demonstrate your Bluegrass State pride and unity than by supporting local retailers, artisans and producers? In the pages ahead, you’ll find Kentucky-made items perfect for gift-giving throughout the year!
Publisher + Editor-in-Chief STEPHEN M. VEST Associate Editor PATRICIA RANFT Assistant Editor DEBORAH KOHL KREMER Contributing Editor TED SLOAN Creative Director REBECCA REDDING Business Manager BARBARA KAY VEST Senoir Account Executive LINDSEY COLLINS Account Executive KELLEY BURCHELL Account Executive TERESA REVLETT
888.329.0053
n
P.O. Box 559
n
100 Consumer Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601
www.kentuckymonthly.com k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 3
HOW TO SHOP Made to Remember madetoremember.co
You Must Remember This... With clever and original designs, the husband-and-wife team of Lee and Sara Busick creates art prints, greeting cards, apparel and more in their Midway studio. From historically rooted state pride designs to oversized studies of native leaves, Made to Remember has memorable gifts for friends and family.
4 K E N T U C K Y M O NT H LY K E N TUCKY GIFT GUID E
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 5
HOW TO SHOP Museum Bees museumbees.com
Bee Kind Museum Bees—small-scale, handmade, framed wall décor—are the creations of Louisville artist Trace Mayer. Most are made from repurposed antique picture frames or used bourbon barrel staves combined with a small, gilded ornament—an animal, a monogram or a curiosity. Each item measures just a few inches and is a memorable piece of art that can stand alone or in a grouping.
I n d u l g e + R e j u v e n at e
HOW TO SHOP hydraAROMATHERAPY hydraaromatherapy.com
Take a deep breath and experience the healing properties of a calming fragrance. Products from hydraAROMATHERAPY in Lexington are made with 100 percent pure essential oils and can be used in the bath, in the shower, or even on the go. Gift boxes are available with special scent combinations formulated to wake you up, calm you down, and boost your mood. 6 K E N T U C K Y M O NT H LY K E N TUCKY GIFT GUID E
C U STOM LEATHER GIFTS
Central Kentucky Tack and Leather shop online, in store or give us a call 859.299.TACK(8225) CENTRALKYTACKANDLEATHER.COM
3380 Paris Pike, Suite 1100 Lexington 40511
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 7
Oak and Moore of Versailles weaves timeless designs and artisan craftsmanship with Kentucky’s bourbon heritage. Items cleverly made from used bourbon barrels include furniture, bottle openers, shelving and bourbon barrel head wall décor.
Repurposed
Bourbon Barrels
HOW TO SHOP Oak and Moore • 141 N. Main Street, Versailles • oakandmoore.com
8 K E N T U C K Y M O NT H LY K E N TUCKY GIFT GUID E
The Anderson County Arts Council, in partnership with the community, enriches the quality of life for area residents of all ages by providing educational opportunities, presenting art forms, promoting artists and art groups, and guiding advancement of the arts.
T H E ART T R A I L Artists from Anderson County, and nearby, open their doors to the public once a year for the annual Art Trail!
FIRST SATURDAY IN NOVEMBER, 10 AM –5 PM Learn more at acartsky.org
Anderson County Arts Council 1986 Fox Creek Road, Lawrenceburg, KY acartsky@gmail.com • acartsky.org
K E N T U C K Y CA N VA S B AG
$
35
C O F F E E M U G $2 0
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY P U Z Z L E $ 3 5
ky-inspired gifts Demonstrate your love for our Commonwealth by giving a Kentucky-specific item, such as a handy canvas tote adorned with state-related icons, a logo mug, a challenging and fun puzzle, or a cookbook filled with recipes from Kentucky Monthly.
HOW TO SHOP SEASONED COOKING O F K E N T U C K Y $2 9 . 9 5
Kentucky Monthly Magazine • shopkentuckymonthly.com
a gift for all seasons Codi, a Lexington artist, found her love of polymer clay during the COVID-19 pandemic and transformed that love into Ro & Rea Co., which offers fun and stylish jewelry and accessories. Each cleverly designed piece is handmade, and the collection changes along with the seasons.
HOW TO SHOP Ro & Rea Co. roandreaco.com
10 K E N T U CK Y M O NT H LY K E NT UCKY GIFT GUID E
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 11
Knot the Same Old Thing Handmade gifts are among the most treasured, and Zagadka of Lexington offers plenty of options. With a choice of macramé plant holders, embroidered wall art and crocheted home décor pieces, you’ll find something to give and lots to keep for yourself.
HOW TO SHOP Zagadka etsy.com/shop/zagadkas
Welcoming Woodcarvings Personalized gifts are among the most thoughtful treasures. Richmond-based Bluegrass Papercuts began with items created from paper and has expanded to include a collection of engraved cutting boards, Christmas ornaments, holiday décor, custom signs, coasters and more crafted from wood.
HOW TO SHOP Bluegrass Papercuts bluegrasspapercuts.com
12 K E N T U CK Y M O NT H LY K E NT UCKY GIFT GUID E
Shop Local Buy Kentucky open 7 days a week in historic downtown Frankfort
CompletelyKentucky.com k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 13
functional art Add a splash of color to any—or every—room in your house with a custom tray by Lexington’s Brooke Harris. These acrylic and resin trays are crafted with hand-poured, blended paint and embellished with hand-applied metallic leaves— each a one-of-a-kind work of art.
HOW TO SHOP Brooke Harris • brookeerinharris.com
Customize Your Cap With high-quality leather patches to adorn your favorite cap, Hide & Timber of Owensboro offers an assortment of caps adorned with patches. Whether you like a Kentucky-shaped patch on a trucker-style cap or a specialized logo on leather affixed to a ballcap, Hide & Timber has got you covered. They take custom orders, too!
HOW TO SHOP Hide & Timber hideandtimber-designs.myshopify.com
14 K E N T U CK Y M O NT H LY K E NT UCKY GIFT GUID E
give the gift of a kentucky staycation more to explore
PILLOW & PADDOCK
Belle Louise Historic B&B 304 North Sixth Street, Paducah bellelouisepaducah.com 270.210.2553
Situated in the heart of Oldham County, this tranquil 6-acre property is surrounded by picturesque rolling hills, lush pastures, beautiful estates and Thoroughbred horse farms, yet is just a 4-minute drive from historic Main Street in La Grange, with its fascinating Alley Loop, and only 22 miles from Louisville.
Bluegrass Country Estate 1226 Bluegrass Parkway, LaGrange bluegrasscountryestate.com 502.222.2009 Bourbon Manor B&B Inn 714 North Third Street, Bardstown bourbonmanor.com 502.268.7266 Maple Hill Manor 2941 Perryville Road, Springfield maplehillmanor.com 859.336.3075
new listing
y
Moon River B&B 320 Market Street, Maysville moonriverbedandbreakfast.com 606.563.8812 Riverside Inn B&B 85 East Highway 42, Warsaw riversideinnbb.com 859.567.1329
3262 O LD S LI G O R OAD, L A GR ANGE 502. 222. 4372 • pillowandpaddock.com
BEST PLACE TO STAY NEAR
Mammoth Cave National Park Grand Victorian Inn 5 Old Dixie Highway, Park City grandvictorianinnky.com 270.590.1935
River Trails Inn 301 Hill Street, Livermore airbnb.com/rooms/38361408 Snug Hollow Farm B&B 790 Cr-1221 #8951, Irvine snughollow.com 606.723.4786 Thurman Landing 201 West Western Avenue, Sonora thurmanlanding.com 270.949.1897
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 15
for the home
Lighten the Mood
The luxurious fragrances from Somerset Candle Company can awaken the senses, promote calmness and more. Hand poured in small batches, the candles are made with vegan, cruelty-free and phthalate-free products. The candle names reflect Kentuckyrelated businesses and attractions, such as Conley Bottom Resort, Haney’s Appledale Farm and Area Code 606.
“Hand poured in small batches in our cozy home, each candle is made with love.”
HOW TO SHOP Somerset Candle Company • somersetcandle.com
16 K E N T U CK Y M O NT H LY K E NT UCKY GIFT GUID E
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 17
Snug + Warm Keep your friends and family toasty this winter with a luxury merino wool hat handmade by Hogtie Knit Goods in Madisonville. Choose from beanies with faux-fur pompoms, regular beanies, headbands, clutches, cozy cowls and more.
HOW TO SHOP Hogtie Knit Goods etsy.com/shop/hogtieknitgoods
Fired-up jewelry Berea artist Becky Brown creates earrings, necklaces, bracelets and ring dishes using complex processes. Most of the jewelry is hand-designed, then cut from copper sheeting, sanded, painted with enamel (powdered glass), and kiln fired. She also works with ceramics and hammered metals. Each item is “made to order with love.”
HOW TO SHOP Becky Brown Jewelry and Metalwork beckybrownjewelry.com/shop
18 K E N T U CK Y M O NT H LY K E NT UCKY GIFT GUID E
MOSS HILL BATH & BODY COLLECTION
Take time to stop and smell the fragrances in life...
Moss Hill specializes in handmade Kentucky themed scents for the perfect gift, consider our best selling fragrance lines in Kentucky Girl®, Bathe in Bourbon® and Kentucky Lily®
Louisville • 502.365.3405 • www.mosshill.net
Memorable Gifts Watercolor Pet Portraits
Sallie Clay Lanham • 502-695-4472 • sallie.artist@gmail.com
Custom Painting of Your favorite BourBon
Call Sallie Clay Lanham • 502-695-4472 • sallie.artist@gmail.com
Call Sallie Clay Lanham • 502- 695 - 4472 sallie.ar tist@gmail.com k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 19
‘Gorge-ous’ Pottery
Taking inspiration from the dazzling natural beauty of nearby Red River Gorge, artists Casey Papendieck, Noah Broomfield and Laura Gregory of Turtle Farm Pottery specialize in handmade pottery, creating plates, bowls, mugs and—because we’re in Kentucky— bourbon cups. Each piece is handmade and is available in an array of distinctive colors and fun motifs.
HOW TO SHOP Turtle Farm Pottery • turtlefarmpottery.com
Nature’s Vibrant Hues Berea-based Blue Lick Hollow uses eco dyes to print the shapes and patterns of local plants and flowers onto wispy thin silk, creating gorgeous, wearable art. Each scarf or shawl is handmade and unique, depending on the leaves, petals or other botanicals used and the variations of pigments resulting from the transfer.
HOW TO SHOP Blue Lick Hollow etsy.com/shop/BlueLickHollow
20 K E N T U CK Y M O NT H LY K E NT UCKY GIFT GUID E
keep calm and throw things.
ONE OF A KIND ITEMS • PRIVATE LESSONS • WORKSHOPS
Three Lick Pottery 122 South Main Street, Harrodsburg, Ky 40330 859.805.0656 • www.threelickpottery.com
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 21
Gifts for the Foodie AWESOME SAUCE What’s the best way to barbecue meat? Low and slow. And what’s one of the best toppings for that meat? Jesse’s Slooo Good Southern Style Barbecue Sauce. Developed by Lexington resident and barbecue virtuoso Jesse Morris, the sauces are available in six delectable flavors. jesseslooogoodbbq.com
WE ALL SCREAM FOR … SALSA The flavor combo of sweet and spicy rocks the taste buds like no other. Lexington-based Screamin’ Mimi’s Salsa brings the tasty heat to parties, gameday celebrations and holiday gettogethers. Choose from three levels of spiciness—Sweet Hot, Sweet Hotter and Sweet Hottest— and try Screamin’ Mimi’s Hot Pepper Sauce in any dish that might benefit from a kick. screaminmimis.com
A KENTUCKY FAVE Said to have been created in the late 1930s, beer cheese has enjoyed tremendous growth in popularity as a savory spread for crackers and crudités. Lexington native Olivia Swan of Olivia’s Beer Cheese developed her signature recipe in her family kitchen and offers several flavors. oliviasbeercheese.com
22 K E N T U CK Y M O NT H LY K E NT UCKY GIFT GUID E
kentucky food DERBY CITY DELICIOUSNESS With “Bourbon for Everyone” as its motto, it’s only natural that Derby City Jerky is made with bourbon barrel wood-smoked meat. The female-owned company produces several varieties of jerky, including uncured bacon jerky, which has no added nitrites or nitrates. And all of the products are sugar-free! derbycityjerky.com
BOURBON-LACED GOODNESS Here in Kentucky, one might expect to find foods flavored with bourbon, our signature spirit. At Louisville-based Bourbon Country, all of the items are made with the rich, aromatic beverage. From gourmet sauces and mustards to apple butter and preserves, Bourbon Country offers a broad selection of bourbon-infused delights. Check out the gift baskets and bundles. bourboncountryproducts.com
SWEET + NUTRITIOUS DELIGHT
CHEESE, PLEASE
Developed in a Berea kitchen, Sweetgrass Granola combines locally sourced ingredients into a delicious treat sweetened naturally with fruits and sorghum. Packed with vitamins, fiber and antioxidants, Sweetgrass Granola makes for a healthy, satisfying breakfast or snack.
Produced from the milk of pasture-grazed cows that are antibiotic- and hormone-free, Boone Creek Creamery’s handcrafted artisan cheeses are made in Lexington the old-fashioned way, using traditional techniques to protect the delicate curds. Select from gift baskets or give a membership to the Cheese of the Month Club.
sweetgrassgranola.com
boone-creek-creamery-226626.square.site k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 23
for the wine lover...
EXPLORE
Earrings Always Fit
kentucky's wineries Estate-grown, hand-crafted wine from vine to bottle. Nestled on the hillside of Western Kentucky, family-owned Boucherie Winery provides guests with some of the best Kentucky-produced wines. Stroll through one of the state’s largest vineyards, take in the beautiful country sunsets, and sip your favorite libations. Wine and wine slushies available year-round. BOUCHERIE VINEYARDS & WINERY 6523 KEYWAY DRIVE, SPOTTSVILLE, KY boucheriewinery.com • 270.826.6192
Handmade in Lexington, Opal Chickadee earrings are crafted from lightweight polymer clay and sport whimsical designs. Check out the colorful florals, Pride rainbows and apples for teachers. Artist Katie Wurts uses hypoallergenic metal to ensure the earrings are comfortable for all.
more to explore Chenault Vineyards 2284 Barnes Mill Road Richmond, KY chenaultvineyards.com 859.328.7773
Purple Toad Winery 4275 Old US Highway 45 South Paducah, KY purpletoadwinery.com 270.554.0010
Farmer & Frenchman Winery 12522 Highway 41 South Robards, KY farmerandfrenchman.com 270.748.1856
Springhill Plantation B&B and Winery 3205 Springfield Road Bloomfield, KY springhillwinery.com 502.252.9463
24 K E N T U CK Y M O NT H LY K E NT UCKY GIFT GUID E
HOW TO SHOP Opal Chickadee Gifts & Design etsy.com/shop/opalchickadee
CUS TOM BASKETS & DIVIDED TINS AVAILABLE
SPECIALIZING IN WILD SEEDLING PECANS Since 1940 Guaranteed to meet the high standards of creative cooks and discriminating tastes...
606 MOSCOW AVENUE, HICKMAN, KY KYKERNELPECANS.COM • 270.236.2662
GIVE THE Gift of RELAXATION, ROMANCE & REJUVENATION at a Kentucky Bed & Breakfast Inn
special deal Receive $25 BONUS when you purchase $250+ Gift Certificate Gift certificates are redeemable at nearly 50 B&B locations around the state. Certificates can be sent to you or recipient. FREE Shipping. 1-Year Expiration Date.
859.481.4403 ext BBAK
a getaway gift
•
info@kentuckybb.com
www.kentuckybb.com
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 25
for the tea lover Tea-rific
Specializing in artisanal teas and gourmet spices, Flora & Fauna Amor of Winchester is dedicated to blending the finest locally sourced ingredients for its products. The company offers a unique assortment of caffeinated and decaffeinated teas with names like Aphrodi-TEA, which is made with herbs that are calming and sensual, and Ener-CHAI-ze Tea, meant to awaken the senses with rich herbal notes. The Kentuckygrown spice blends include the popular Herbes De Provence, a mix of thyme, basil, rosemary, savory, lavender and tarragon. florafaunaamor.com
A Cozy Cup For more than 10 years, the Louisville Tea Company has provided high-quality looseleaf teas to customers in the River City and beyond via online order. With a huge selection of black, green, white, fruit and herbal teas, the tea company also offers special Kentucky-themed blends, such as the Mint Julep, Bluegrass Blueberry and Derby City Green. louisvilleteacompany.com
tea time with polly In 2021, renowned milliner Polly Singer of Georgetown turned her attention to developing artisan teas, one of her passions. She released her first teas in January 2022. Her hat-design creativity extends to the development of her tea blends, with clever names like Audrey’s French Beret and Paula’s Pumpkin Fedora. Try some of Polly’s seasonal teas or sample her classic blends such as Earl Grey’s Top Hat. hatsandveils.net
26 K E N T U CK Y M O NT H LY K E NT UCKY GIFT GUID E
MT. S TERLING MERCHANTS
CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE NOV 10 • 10AM−6PM
NOV 11 • 10AM−4PM
Festive local shopping, dining and door prizes at participating businesses throughout Mt. Sterling! NOV 25 Downtown Sip, Shop and Stroll DEC 1 Main Street Park Christmas Tree Lighting & Downtown Market DEC 1 Christmas in the Park DEC 2 Polar Express at the Arts Center DEC 2 Downtown Christmas Parade
make memories
DEC 3 The 36th Annual Advent Musicale
in Mt. Sterling this Christmas Season
DEC 9 Harry Potter Yule Ball
at the Arts Center
DEC 1-16 Winter Illuminations:
Mt. Sterling Holiday Lights
DEC 15-17 A Christmas Carol
at the Arts Center
I - 64 E X IT 1 1 0
|
W W W. MTST E R L I N GT O U R I S M . C O M
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 27
gifts for the art lover
Retired physician and self-taught artist William Renzulli of Paducah focuses on landscapes, both urban and rural. He works in a variety of mediums—watercolors, pastels, acrylics and oils—to produce inviting landscapes, eye-catching architecture and nostalgic barns.
HOW TO SHOP Renzulli Fine Art renzulliart.com Display your favorite state with The Fiddle Fig’s framed fabric silhouettes of Kentucky. The Georgetown-based artisan also offers framed fabric artworks of plants, fabric key fobs and silhouettes of other states by special request.
HOW TO SHOP The Fiddle Fig etsy.com/shop/thefiddlefigshop
David Lucht
HOW TO SHOP Cowango Studios cowango.com
Stephanie Graves
Cowango Studios in Paducah is home to the works of Stefanie Graves and David Lucht. Graves specializes in fine-art watercolors, and she says she is inspired in equal parts by the ordinary and exotic. Lucht describes himself as a contemporary realist experimental artist. He focuses on the technique of batik, an ancient art form made with wax-resistant dye on fabrics.
28 K E N T U CK Y M O NT H LY K E NT UCKY GIFT GUID E
A finalist in 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
A Matter of Light The Ar t of Andre Pater
A Matter of Light, The Art of Andre Pater $85.00 Hardcover 240 pages Fincastle Publishing
“All of us who deeply
“The Polish-born painter
“However, it’s not this
admire his work hope
Andre Pater found his
critical acclaim that
that future holds much
calling amid the rolling
affirms Pater, who
more of his stunning art.
hills and stone fences of
describes his biggest
It is after all —a matter of
Kentucky horse country,
reward as —finding the
light— and we want to
where his gift for capturing
person who wants to
keep it in our lives.”
the soul of his subjects has
live with the piece— he
taken him to the pinnacle
has created.”
of the sporting art world.”
Pam Maley Horse & Style Magazine
Penny Woods Kentucky Living
Mike Grudowski Garden & Gun
Available in select venues and at
a n d r e p a t e r. c o m k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 29
Clean Sweep HOW TO SHOP Sunhouse Craft sunhousecraft.com
Using natural materials and timeless Appalachian designs and craftsmanship, partners Cynthia Main and Doug Stubbs create handmade brooms and leather and wood products. Shoppers can visit their Berea storefront at 414 Chestnut Street or order online. Cynthia and Doug share a commitment to participate in and create a vibrant local supply chain.
30 K E N T U CK Y M O NT H LY K E NT UCKY GIFT GUID E
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 31
for the book lover MAY WE RECOMMEND... Books for Kentucky residents and out-of-state Kentuckians penned by Kentuckians
Lonnie & Twyla Money: 50 Years of Kentucky Appalachian Folk Art By Karen Abney (author and Rowland Egerton (photographer)
Author and visual artist Karen Abney of Louisville and Elizabethtown-based photographer Rowland Egerton present the imaginative, vibrant and often whimsical folk art of East Bernstadt residents Lonnie and Twyla Money. The Moneys are cattle farmers who have transformed wood into clever, colorful critters for decades. $
60 (HARDCOVER)
The St. Ambrose School for Girls By Jessica Ward Author Jessica Ward, aka Louisville resident and best-selling author J.R. Ward, takes readers on the coming-of-age journey of Sarah Taylor as she struggles with being “the new girl” in a boarding school, where most students are more affluent. Aside from being bullied by the most popular and powerful girl at the school, Sarah must contend with a recent bipolar diagnosis. But the storyline twists as the pranks lead to more harsh and sinister outcomes. $
27.99 (HARDCOVER)
The Poet Laureate of Aurora Avenue: Selected Poems By Jeff Worley Jeff Worley, Kentucky Poet Laureate for 2019-2020, has compiled a selection of poems for his seventh collection of poetry. Worley divides his time between a cabin at Cave Run Lake in Eastern Kentucky and a home on Aurora Avenue in Lexington, where he regularly delights his neighbors by posting poems outside his residence. $
27.50 (HARDCOVER)
32 K E N T U CK Y M O NT H LY K E NT UCKY GIFT GUID E
YOUR LOCAL TEA SHOP SINCE 2012
LouisviLLeTeaCompany.Com
203 West Main Street, Stanford, KY 40484 kentuckysoapsandsuch.com
S U B S C R I B E T O D AY T H E M A G A Z I N E T H AT C E L E B R AT E S T H E P E O P L E , P L A C E S , E V E N T S + C U LT U R E O F T H E C O M M O N W E A LT H Q $
25 ONE YEAR
.
$
40 TWO YEARS
.
$
50 THREE YEARS
S CA N TO S U B S C R I B E
Uniting Kentuckians Everywhere K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY. C O M 888-329-0053
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 33
A Is for Affrilachia By Frank X Walker (author) and upfromsumdirt (illustrator)
Demon Copperhead By Barbara Kingsolver
With Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield as inspiration, Carlisle native Barbara Kingsolver relates the tale of Damon Fields in this comingof-age novel, which was awarded the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Set in an impoverished area of Appalachia, the story follows young Damon, aka Demon, as he confronts the demons of poverty, drug abuse, education and foster care failures, and child labor in this compassionate view of a young man’s struggles. $
3 2 . 5 0 ( H A R D C OV E R )
In the alphabet book A Is for Affrilachia, Danville native Frank X Walker, Kentucky Poet Laureate for 2013-2014, brings awareness to noted African Americans from Appalachia. Illustrated by upfromsumdirt (pseudonym for visual artist and poet Ronald W. Davis of Lexington), this vibrant picture book teaches children about artists, musicians, activists and more, bringing them to life in bold colors. $
1 9 . 9 5 ( H A R D C OV E R )
A Journey in Color: The Art of Ellis Wilson By Jayne Moore Waldrop (author) and Michael McBride
Based on a true story, A Journey in Color tells the tale of a young Black boy in the early 20th century who tenaciously follows his dream to become an artist, even though grownups scoff at his plans. Against the odds, Ellis is accepted to The Art Institute of Chicago and later succeeds in his goal, becoming a renowned painter during the Harlem Renaissance. Written by Paducah native Jayne Moore Waldrop with brilliantly hued illustrations by Michael McBride, this charming book encourages children of all ages to pursue their dreams. $
2 1 . 9 5 ( H A R D C OV E R )
34 K E N T U CK Y M O NT H LY K E NT UCKY GIFT GUID E
k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 35
36 K E N T U CK Y M O NT H LY K E NT UCKY GIFT GUID E