Cleo Wade Books In Order

Publication Order of Children's Books

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Cleo Wade is a poet, artist and author who writes empowering and accessible works that speak to a greater future for the LGBTQ community, women, and people of color while preaching equality, love, equity, acceptance, peace and justice. She has said that her artwork is founded on the idea that creative work should be created to serve all people. This is what has inspired her biggest artworks including “Respect,” the 25 foot love poem installed in the French Quarter in New Orleans. The follow up work titled “She” was a collaboration between her and Brandon Odums that was installed in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans. She is also responsible for the “ARE YOU OK” project in New York which is a public booth at Hester Street Fair that aims to promote loving, peaceful and free conversations. She also designed the “Show Love Spread Love” public art installation which are several 10 word mantras on nearly forty feet screen installations in Los Angeles. Apart from art installations, Wade has also been involved in the creation of neon text, drawings, sculptures and paintings. She is also a regular contributor to “Teen Vogue” and “W” magazine.

Wade was brought up in New Orleans in the French Quarter neighborhood to Bernado Wade, a black father and Lori Rockett, a white mother. As a six year old, she took a poetry course while the schools were closed over the summer and this is how she came to love the art of writing. Soon thereafter, she was introduced to the likes of Roald Dahl and the excellent illustrations by Quentin Blake. She also loved anything that told of the silliness and fun in life and hence loved to read the likes of “The Little Prince,” “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “Corduroy,” and “Shel Silverstein.” After she graduated from high school she moved to New York as she was interested in pursuing a career in fashion. During this time, she was a model and consultant for Armani and Cartier and was also Halston New York office manager. It should have been the happiest period of her life as she was finally making her own money but she was not. Since she couldn’t take it any more, she quit to travel the world and was soon doing poetry and painting.

Apart from her work in the arts, Cleo Wade is a female empowerment advocate that has spoken at the “Women on the Move” panel at New York University. She has also taught courses at Austin’s SXSW on self expression and self love. As a race and gender equality advocate, she sits on the Harlem based National Black Theater and Emily’s List Creative Council. Cleo is also a champion of children’s rights and education and is a supporter of New York City’s non profit creating art programs. She has also worked with UNICEF and gone on trip to explore issues such as vulnerable communities in the third world and climate change. She is a regular contributor to “Saint Heron” and “Harpers Bazaar” and is a founding member of Chez Conversations, the female arts collective. Even though she was born and bred in New Orleans, she currently makes her home in New York City.

“Heart Talk” by Cleo Wade is a brilliantly illustrated work from the speaker, poet and artist that the New Yorker Magazine called the Millennial Oprah. Through her work, she provides creative life lessons and inspiration through affirmations, mantras and poetry. The novel is a book of accessible and inspiring wisdom for the new generation. It comes with more than 10 dozen original affirmations, mantras and poems that include newer ones never seen before and fan favorites she has spouted on her Instagram account. It is something of a daily pep talk that will keep a reader motivated and empowered. It has digestible, practical and relatable advice that makes for a replenishing drink of water for anyone that bothers to pick it up. It is a poetry book that should be kept in your day bag or on the bedside table to provide a dose of spiritual adrenaline. With it, one can quickly discover and unlock whatever it is that prevents them from spiritually and emotionally thriving.

Cleo Wade’s “Where to Begin” is a small book of heartfelt prose and poetry that builds on what she talked about in the debut. It asks the reader to harness the power and remain hopeful in the quest to bring positive change in their lives and their world. It is a novel perfect for anyone ready to join the bandwagon of people building a society dedicated to equality, love, justice and acceptance. According to the author, the novel is a collection of poems, mantras and ideas she turns to when she believes she could be losing it. It is a collection that is best for anyone overwhelmed by helplessness, worry, anxiety and fear. With the words in the work, one can get the strength not to walk away when things get really tough. They can help you have hope and stay connected even when you are facing the most daunting challenges. The author asserts that change comes in many different formats and it does not always have to be either nothing or a huge gesture. Life could be summarized as a collection of small moments hence the big stuff is just the small stuff. While the world is a collection of a series of small actions, the novel is a roadmap on how to begin.

“What the Road Said” by Cleo Wade asks which turn shall we take or which road should we choose? It is a story that offers reassurance, and comfort and is full of encouragement and hope as we strive to make our way. The novel is a reminder that we need to enjoy not only the journey’s end but also the journey itself. It also asserts that even though we may take the wrong turn from time to time, we have to be okay with it as long as we do our best to do right. While sometimes we can be afraid of doing something it is critical to do it anyway and this work offers some insightful answers on how to deal with challenges we may face. While it is marketed as a childrens book it would make the perfect baby or graduation gift. If you loved Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” then you will definitely enjoy this one.