The text in the book is simple, the art radiant. Poet Ruth Forman and Illustrator Geneva Bowers deliver an charming tale of four girls delighting in their hair.
REVIEW: CURLS
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Tag: Diversity
REVIEW: Harlem Grown
Nevaeh goes to school at PS-175. Across from her school is a junk filled plot of land. While volunteering at the school, Hillery, “Mr Tony the kids called him,” notices the vacant lot and he has an idea. He cleared the lot, with the help of the students and they plant 400 seedlings, “one for each kid.”
REVIEW: TOGETHER WE MARCH (25 PROTEST MOVEMENTS THAT MARCHED INTO HISTORY)
One of the most powerful things I observed during this past summer of demonstrating for racial justice was just how influential young people, sometimes very young people, were to the movements in my community. Whitney Houston sang, “I believe the children are our future.” I say, “thank Heaven.” Hopefully they’ll do a better job than we have. In the meantime, baby activists will want to add this inspiring book to their reference collection.
Review: Off to see the sea
With a flowing, lyrical rhythm and rich descriptions of all the imaginary events that make bath time something to look forward to, this story captures the reader’s attention and keeps them turning pages for more. This is one story that will be enjoyed for many readings.
REVIEW: Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston
Confession time: I often don’t care for picture book biographies. They’re hard to do well; either their subject matter is too adult for the preschool crowd, or their treatment of their subject is too shallow for the adult reading it. It’s a tricky thing to get right, but author Alicia D. Williams and illustrator Jaqueline Alcántara have struck a near-perfect tone with Jump at the Sun, a compelling and delightful picture book about national treasure Zora Neale Hurston.
REVIEW: Malaika’s Surprise
This book is a well-written, beautifully illustrated, and heartwarming story about a little girl afraid about yet another change in her very young life. How wonderfully banal. To young readers, the diversity in the book will hopefully come across as passe, almost an afterthought, to the central story that every kid who has dealt with the arrival of a new disruptive sibling can relate to.
Review: Me & Mama
With sumptuous, lyrical language that will move melt even the coldest heart, Cabrera gives you a sweet peek into a lovely day shared between a daughter and her mother.
REVIEW: R-E-S-P-E-C-T Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul
This book is a quick introduction to the life and accomplishments of the famed singer. Written in rhyming couplets, each two page spread is headlined by a theme word, spelled out like Aretha’s most famous song R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Review: My Hair
This is a story that touches on cultural awareness, traditions, feelings, confidence, and so many other positive aspects of growing up. It depicts a confident, self-assured little girl who is not shy about being herself. In a world where so much is about conforming to expectations, this book offers little girls as well as not so little girls, a view of what it is to be yourself and show your best self to the world around you.