Pura Belpre Award

                                                 

Aponte, C. (2019). Across the bay. Penguin Workshop.

Overview

Carlitos lives in a happy home with his mother, his abuela, and coco the cat. Life in his hometown is cozy as can be, but the call of the capital city pulls Carlitos across the bay in search for his father. 

Evaluation

Aponte's illustration style is delightful combined with brilliant colors that makes each page visually appealing. The author also highlights the ancient city and their people in his illustrations. Aponte writes a touching tale which makes the storyline real and heartfelt. 

Booklist (August 2019 (Vol. 115, No. 22))

Preschool-Grade 1. Carlitos lives with his mother and his abuela in Cataño, Puerto Rico. Though he’s happy in his cozy house, his family is different because his father is gone, living somewhere across the bay in San Juan. An idea forms: he’ll bring a photo of his father and take the ferry to the capital. He shows the picture to strangers, and some offer suggestions. He wanders until the only place left to look is the El Morro castle. But there’s no Papi, and his photo is lost. The kind words of a park ranger offer solace: no matter the dark clouds, the sun will eventually return. Aponte does a fine job of taking on a poignant problem without overwhelming the story with sadness. Much of the heavy lifting is done by the effusive art, done in the style of mid-century artwork, with thick lines around fancifully shaped characters, including hidden gems like the cats that follow Carlitos. The lushly colored art is suffused with an animation that reminds readers that life is always moving, a good lesson for any age group.

Horn Book Magazine (January/February, 2020)

Aponte explores a young child's physical and emotional journey coping with his father's absence from his life and learning to love all that is around him. Carlitos lives with his mother, grandmother, and cat in Cataño, a town just across the bay from Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Now and then, in the streets or at the barbershop, Carlitos notices that there's something different about his family. From his mother, the young boy learns that his father lives across the bay. Sometimes things don't work out. Carlitos decides to hop onto the ferry and travel to Old San Juan with a photo of his dad and the hope of finding him. Through strikingly colorful and vibrant illustrations, Aponte captures the essence of Old San Juan: while Carlitos asks around for his father, readers can see such typical local images as a shaved-ice vendor, a group of cats, old men playing dominoes, the traditional San Sebastián street festival, and people flying kites at El Morro fort. This tale, in which a young boy walks around by himself without anyone knowing, asking, or wondering where his supervising adults are, is based on Aponte's childhood memories of a particular time and place. A lively and honest story about filling voids and exploring what defines a family as well as a love letter to a childhood home. Sujei Lugo January/February 2020 p.63

Other Books Written by Carlos Aponte

A Season to Bee: a Stylish Book of Colors 

Deedy, C. A. (2007). Martina the beautiful cockroach: a Cuban folktale. Peachtree Publishers.

Overview

A humorous retelling of a Cuban folktale in which a cockroach interviews her suitors in order to decide whom to marry. 

Evaluation

This story will change your views about how you think about a cockroach. The illustrations are beautiful, colorful, and filled with clever details. The few Cuban colloquialisms do not interfere with your understanding of the story. The message of the story teaches you what qualities you should look for in choosing a partner and what you should not accept. The author takes a traditional tale with similar themes and intertwines it with her own memories. Great story to be retold and adapted to fit the wide range of cultures and individual experiences. With this text, students can practice predicting, asking questions, story elements, main idea and details, summary, and facts and opinions. 

Booklist (October 1, 2007 (Vol. 104, No. 3))

Grades K-3. Martina’s Cuban grandmother advises lovely cockroach Martina to spill coffee on suitors to see examples of their personality. Martina is reluctant at first, but the test proves abuela’s point: rooster Don Gallo is cocky; pig Don Cerdo is boorish; and lizard Don Lagarto is cold-blooded. Martina is exasperated until abuela points out overlooked suitor Perez the mouse. Amid compliments and blushes, Perez splashes café cubano onto Martina’s shoes. How did you know about the Coffee Test? she asks in surprise. Well, mi amor, my love . . . I too have a Cuban grandmother. Deedy’s masterful retelling of this Latino folktale has a rollicking voice imbued with sly tongue-in-cheek humor. The acrylic illustrations, in a hyperrealistic style reminiscent of a softer William Joyce, are rendered in a vivid tropical palette. Shifting perspectives and points of view add vitality to the compositions, and facial expressions reveal both emotions and character traits. A scattering of Spanish words adds zest to this fine read-aloud. Unfortunately, source notes are noticeably absent.

Horn Book Guide (Spring 2008)

Martina, a lovely green Cuban cockroach, follows her grandmother's advice and applies the coffee test to all her prospective husbands: when a suitor comes calling, she spills coffee on his shoes and quickly discovers how he'll behave when angry. Humorous wordplay adds spice to this (unsourced) retelling, while the entertaining acrylic illustrations portray the animals' foibles with gusto. Concurrently published in Spanish.

Other Books Written by Carmen Agra Deedy

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: a Dickens of a Tale

Rita & Ralph's Rotten Day

The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet! 

Denise, A. A. (2019). Planting stories: the life of librarian and storyteller Pura Belpre. HarperCollins.

Overview

An illustrated biography of the life of Pura Belpre the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City.

Evaluation

Inspiring story with beautiful and detailed illustrations. The author provides a note on the back two pages that will leave you with chills going down your body. This book tells the story of a woman who shared her own personal experiences which ended up making a difference in the lives of everyone she met. The author includes Spanish vocabulary, but the context and imagery helps the reader to understand even if you don't have knowledge of the language. With this text, students can practice figurative language and context clues. 

Booklist (November 15, 2018 (Vol. 115, No. 6))

Grades K-3. Denise and Escobar pay tribute to the legacy of librarian Pura Belpré in this vibrant picture-book biography. Adults familiar with Belpré’s story will immediately compare this book to The Storyteller’s Candle (2008), by Lucía González, but this version adds a contemporary feel through the brilliantly detailed, brightly colored, whimsical illustrations and smoothly integrated linguistic code-switching. Here readers watch as Pura arrives in New York in 1921, just for a visit, filled with the stories her abuela told her in Puerto Rico. She stays, however, and finds work as a seamstress but yearns to do something else. As luck would have it, her chance comes when the public library needs a bilingual assistant. Thus begins Pura Belpré’s career as the storyteller with puppets and a candle, around whose feet children sat listening to stories of Puerto Rico, including ones Pura writes herself. Planting Stories is a glossy immigration tale of dreams coming true, and the lyrical language lends itself to being read aloud.

Kirkus Reviews (November 1, 2018)

A warm introduction to Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian in the New York Public Library. In 1921, Belpré left her island home of Puerto Rico for New York City. There, she started work as a bilingual assistant in the public library. But where were the stories of her native land? “How lucky for the library that Pura has story seeds ready to plant and grow.” Eventually, not only did Belpré hold a popular bilingual story program, but also, finding there were no books available for children in Spanish, she wrote them. Traveling “from branch to branch, classroom to classroom, to churches and community centers,” Belpré planted “her story seeds in the hearts and minds of children new to this island who wish to remember la lengua y los colores of home.” Belpré’s story is told in rhythmic language with a good dose of (unitalicized) Spanish sprinkled throughout. Escobar’s vibrant illustrations are filled with details that help bring to life the story of this remarkable librarian. Belpré is portrayed with light brown skin. A closing note explains that today, the American Library Association honors her by presenting an annual award that bears her name to a Latinx writer and illustrator whose works celebrate the Latino cultural experience. Read together with The Storyteller’s Candle / La velita de los cuentos, by Lucía González and illustrated by Lulu Delacre (2008). In Belpré, children will find an affirmation of the importance of seeing their own culture in books. (bibliography, further reading) (Picture book/biography.

Other Books Written by Anika Denise

The Love Letter

Monster Trucks

Baking Day at Grandma's

                                                

Engle, M. (2019). Dancing hands. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Overview

Tells the story of Teresa Carreno, a child prodigy who played the piano for Abraham Lincoln.

Evaluation

The story conveys the Venezuelan and American history in a way that children will understand. Great book to share with children and discussing the many gifts we have to offer and how we can use our gifts to spread light in the darkest moments. Talks about the perseverance a young girl had to go through to learn how to play the piano and making the music behave as she imagined it should sound. The illustrations are beautiful with a watercolor effect. Summarizing, descriptive language, main idea and details are some of the skills that can be covered using this text. 

Booklist (June 1, 2019 (Vol. 115, No. 19))

Grades 1-3. Engle and López pair up again to bring equality to the arts in this picture-book biography of pianist and composer Teresa Carreño. More detailed than their Pura Belpré Honor Book, Drum Dream Girl (2015), the lyrical, imagery-rich text alternates between prose and free verse as it describes Teresa’s early childhood in Venezuela in the mid-1800s. When a revolution tears through the country, the young prodigy and her family move to New York, where she feels like an oddity and where a civil war also wreaks havoc. Concerts around the world, however, spare the newly proclaimed “Piano Girl” from much of this pain. An invitation from the White House to play for the grieving President Lincoln and his family almost turns disastrous due to a poorly tuned piano, but Teresa’s perseverance saves the evening in the story’s climax. Patterned mixed-media illustrations use color to evoke the lushness of Venezuela, the darkness of war, and the beauty of music. Concluding with a historical note, the biography’s vibrant images and language form a melodious composition.

Horn Book Guide starred (Fall 2019)

Teresa Carreño (1853–1917) learned to play piano early in life. When she was eight, her family fled war-torn Venezuela and moved to New York, where she became a well-known child prodigy. Her status provided her with the extraordinary chance to play for President Lincoln, still grieving his young son's death. Engle's writing shines; López's vivid illustrations evoke characters and historical settings with absorbing detail. Appended with a brief historical note.

Other Books Written by Margarita Engle 

The Poet Slave of Cuba: a Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music

The Firefly Letters: a Suffragette's Journey to Cuba 

Medina, M. (2017). Mango, abuela, and me. Candlewick.

Overview

Ovver

Mia's Abuela has left her sunny house with parrots and palm trees to live with Mia and her parents in the city. The night she arrives, Mia tries to share her favorite book with Abuela before they go to sleep and discovers that Abuela can't read the words inside. This text is great to cover problem and solution with students. 

Evaluation

A story that many children can relate to with communicating with family members. A heartfelt story about a girl and grandmother developing a warm, loving relationship while learning new things. Great book for identifying the problem and solution in a realistic story. The illustrations depict the ups and downs that Mia and her Abuela experienced as they tried to communicate with one another as well as the small and comfortable apartment in their cheery neighborhood. 

Booklist starred (July 2015 (Vol. 111, No. 21))

Grades 1-3. Mia is shy about meeting her grandmother, who is moving in with her from the faraway tropics. Abuela speaks Spanish and “can’t unlock the English words,” and Mia’s español is not good enough to bridge the divide they both feel. Soon they find ways of getting to know each other—walking to the park, rolling masa (dough) for meat pies—but it’s not enough. Mia decides to teach Abuela English by labeling everything in the house (even the hamster!), and Abuela teaches Mia Spanish in return. One day Mia gives her grandmother a pet parrot, which they name Mango, and he becomes their student—trilingual in English, Spanish, and parrot! Pura Belpré Award winner Medina (Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, 2013) and Pura Belpré honoree Dominguez (Maria Had a Little Llama, 2013) have created a poignant tale of intergenerational connection, transition, and patience. The language and vivid illustrations (a colorful blend of ink, gouache, and marker) are infused with warmth and expression, perfectly complementing the story’s tone. Abuela’s adjustment to her new home is sensitively portrayed as she and Mia bond over their different cultures and shared heritage. Pair with Matt de la Peña’s Last Stop on Market Street (2015) for another look at urban multiculturalism. Heartfelt, layered, and beautiful—a must for library collections.

Horn Book Guide starred (Spring 2016)

Mia worries when her "far-away grandmother" arrives. Abuela doesn't speak English, and Mia's "espaqol is not good enough to tell her the things an abuela should know." A pet-store parrot named Mango allows Mia and her abuela to truly connect. This heartwarming story about finding common ground and adapting to change is accompanied by illustrations that capture the characters' emotions and moods.

Other Books Written by Meg Medina

Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away

Merci Suarez Changes Gears

The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind

Montes, M. (2000). Juan Bobo goes to work. HarperCollins Publishers.

Overview

A retelling of the Puerto Rican folktale in which a boy named Juan Bobo tries to do exactly as his mother tells him, but keeps getting things all wrong.

Evaluation

A great story that any child can relate to when trying so hard to do something, but fail or make a bigger mess along the way. The misjudgments throughout the story keep the reader engaged. The illustrations are full page and very colorful which provide snippets of Puerto Rico. The author includes a glossary at the end of the story with the pronunciation and meaning of the Spanish vocabulary used throughout the book.  

Booklist (February 1, 2001 (Vol. 97, No. 11))

Ages 3-8. In this Puerto Rican parallel to Lazy Jack, Juan Bobo has the same problems with coins, milk, cheese, and other payments as his English counterpart. When Juan makes the rich girl laugh, however, her father repays him with a ham every Sunday. This altered ending fits the setting but occurs abruptly. Otherwise, the funny, well-paced retelling smoothly incorporates Spanish words and phrases. Most are easily understood in context, but an appended glossary provides pronunciations as well as definitions. An author's note adds cultural background about Juan Bobo but cites no specific source for the story. Using bold, bright Caribbean colors, Cepeda's oil paintings amplify Juan's silliness and charm. Brush strokes add texture, and background details establish the Puerto Rican setting. An obvious candidate for multicultural units, this will be popular wherever children love to laugh.

Horn Book Guide (Spring 2001)

Juan Bobo (Simple John) sets out to find a job--first with the farmer, then with the grocer. Despite his mother's instructions, the silly peasant boy gets everything wrong and loses his coins and food on the way home every day. But his antics, comically illustrated, are rewarded when he makes an ill rich girl laugh. An author's note gives information about this popular Puerto Rican folktale character. A pronunciation guide is included. Glos.

Other Books Written by Marisa Montes 

Los Gatos Black on Halloween

Morales, Y. (2018). Dreamers. Neal Porter Books.

Overview

An illustrated picture book biography in which the author tells her own immigration story.

Evaluation

The story of immigration is told in short snippets with detailed artwork on each page. Great read aloud for understanding how it feels to come to a strange culture and not being able to speak the same language as the native people and how books helped find comfort. Also, great to use with older students in breaking down the figurative language used throughout the story. The last few pages include the author's immigration story in more detail, books that inspired her, and how she made the book. With this text, students can practice identifying the main idea and details, summarizing, author's message, and comparing and contrasting.

Booklist starred (September 1, 2018 (Vol. 115, No. 1))

Preschool-Grade 2. Yuyi Morales and her son are dreamers—the books they read allow them to imagine a new life in a new country that doesn’t always welcome them. Based on her own immigration tale, the multi-award-winning Morales’ newest picture book recounts the challenges and wonders of living in a new country. She and her son experience discrimination because they don’t always know the rules and customs of their new home. English becomes a barrier that makes it difficult for them to fully comprehend the world around them. Despite it all, Morales and her son find hope in the books of their local library, and their voracious reading leads them to create their own books. The narrative text is poetic and full of emotion. The English version is sprinkled with Spanish words like migrantes, caminantes, and amor, which monolingual readers will understand from the context of the story. In classic Morales style, the mixed-media illustrations are breathtaking, created through painting, drawing, photography, and embroidery. The joyous imagination and intricacy of each illustration will make readers of all ages explore them further. The pages with the library, for example, depict the covers of other significant Latinx children’s books like Carmen Lomas Garza’s In My Family / En mi familia (2000) and Jorge Argueta’s A Movie in My Pillow / Una pelicula en mi almohada (2001). This rich offering launches the new Neal Porter Books imprint and can be paired with Duncan Tonatiuh’s Undocumented: A Worker’s Fight​ (2018) for its focus on the Latinx immigrant experience.

Horn Book Guide starred (Spring 2019)

Two "migrantes," a mother and her infant son, arrive on "the other side." Here they meet cultural challenges (customs, language) that are resolved at the San Francisco Public Library, with its "unimaginable" wealth of books that offer paths to literacy, community, even a career. Occasional Spanish words enrich the succinct, gently poetic text, illustrated with rich and vibrant pen-and-ink, acrylic, and collage art. Back matter sets the narrative in personal and historical context. Concurrently published in Spanish as Soqadores.

Other Books Written by Yuyi Morales 

Just in Case: a Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet book 

Just a Minute: a Trickster Tale and Counting Book

Nino Wrestles the World 

Soto, G. (2000). Chato and the party animals. Puffin Books.

Overview

Chato decides to throw a "pachanga" for his friend Novio Boy, who has never had a birthday party.

Evaluation

The animals take on the characteristics of people living in the city neighborhood. The illustrations are a two-page spread with the text written only on the white parts of each page. The author includes a glossary at the front of the book to help with the understanding of the Spanish vocabulary used throughout the story. The pictures depict the differences in the characters, how it's okay, and that everyone can still be friends. Great message of the value of friendship.

Publishers Weekly (February 23, 2004)

Last seen in Chato's Kitchen, Chato the cat here learns that his best friend has never had a birthday party. Chato plans a pachanga [party] that would be absolutely lo mejor [the best]-if only he had remembered to invite the guest of honor. Ages 4-up. (Feb.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal (July 2000)

K-Gr 3-In this sequel to Chato's Kitchen (Putnam, 1995), the ebullient, jazzy, party-loving homecat decides to throw a surprise birthday bash for his best friend, Novio Boy, who was raised in the pound and has never had a party. Buying the provisions, inviting his friends, decorating, arranging for music-Chato thinks he has seen to everything. The guests begin to arrive and one dog raises a crucial question: "Where's the birthday cat?" Aghast, Chato realizes that he neglected to invite Novio Boy and organizes a search, which proves fruitless. The party turns wake as, certain that Novio Boy has met an untimely end, all the animals remember his good qualities and grieve. In the midst of this, who should turn up but the guest of honor with some new friends in tow. With double reason to celebrate, the party is a wild success. Rollicking language-a completely integrated and poetic combination of barrio slang, Spanish, and colloquial English-carries the story along. Guevara's lively acrylic-on-scratchboard illustrations have a verve and style that will make readers long to join the fun. A glossary of Spanish words preceding the text neatly removes any mystery, rendering this joyous celebration of friendship not only understandable but irresistible.-Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Other Books Written by Gary Soto

Too Many Tamales 

Buried Onion

Accidental Love

Tonatiuh, D. (2016). The princess and the warrior. Abrams Books for Young Readers.

Overview

Princess Izta had many wealthy suitors, but dismissed them all. When a mere warrior, Popoca, promised to be true to her and stay always by her side, Izta fell in love. The emperor promised Popoca if he could defeat their enemy Jaguar Claw, then Popoca and Izta could wed. When Popoca was near to defeating Jaguar Claw, his opponent sent a messenger to Izta saying Popoca was dead. Izta fell into a deep sleep and, upon his return, even Popoca could not wake her. As promised Popoca stayed by her side.

Evaluation

The illustrations are beautiful and depict the ancient storytellers. The author leaves you wanting to learn more about this ancient tale and the culture. The story reminded me of Romeo and Juliet, but with a twist. Even though the characters go to battle, the author does not include violent scenes. The author includes their personal note as well as a glossary with the Nahuatl pronunciation and definition. With this text, students are able to practice the skills of summarization, cause and effect, identifying main idea and details, and author's purpose.

Booklist starred (September 1, 2016 (Vol. 113, No. 1))

Grades K-3. Sibert-winning Tonatiuh (Funny Bones, 2015) brings to his books a richness in text and illustration, and this retelling of a Mexican legend is no exception. Two great volcanoes, Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl, stand outside of today’s Mexico City and have been the inspiration for many folktales and origin stories. Using stylized images (based on several ancient Mixtec codices), Tonatiuh reminds us of the highly developed cultures that came up with these stories. This particular myth centers on a great love, a great warrior, and a great deceit. A beautiful princess falls in love with a soldier, Popoca, to her father’s dismay. The emperor tells Popoca that if he defeats the village’s greatest enemy, he can marry the princess. Popoca is on the brink of success, when treachery and miscommunication leads to tragedy. A glossary of the many Nahuatl words used in the text (some of which have become part of spoken Spanish today) is included, and the illustrations are compelling and dramatic in the contrast of lights and darks. Tonatiuh’s characteristic round heads and figures in profile add a classic element (be sure to look under the book jacket for two powerful images). The appealing story, compelling illustrations, and celebration of the Aztec culture make this a sure thing for those looking for a story, while an extensive author’s note goes a step beyond, adding to the impact of the tale with a great deal of historical and cultural information.

Horn Book Guide starred (Spring 2017)

Returning from battle to find his love, Princess Izta, in a deep sleep, warrior Popoca takes Izta to a mountain top. Soon, "where once there was a princess with her true love by her side, two volcanoes emerged." Tonatiuh's mixed-media art, an homage to the Mixtec codices, is instantly recognizable; with its assured storytelling, this adapted pourquoi story may be his best yet. Bib., glos.

Other Books Written by Duncan Tonatiuh 

Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family's Fight for Desegregation

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras 

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: a Migrant's Tale

 

Velasquez, E. (2010). Grandma's gift. Walker & Company.

Overview

The author describes Christmas at his grandmother's apartment in Spanish Harlem the year she introduced him to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Diego Velazquez's portrait of Juan de Pareja, which has had a profound and lasting effect on him.

Evaluation

Wonderful story about traditions and the importance of passing those on from generation to generation to keep the family traditions alive. Beautiful story about the relationship between the little boy and his grandmother. The illustrations are lovely and realistic. The author includes their personal note at the end of the book.

Booklist (November 15, 2010 (Vol. 107, No. 6))

Grades 1-3. In this prequel to Grandma’s Records (2001), Eric spends his winter break with his Puerto Rican grandmother in her apartment in New York City’s El Barrio. Together, they shop, cook traditional dishes such as pasteles, and complete Eric’s homework assignment: to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and view Diego Velázquez’s masterpiece Juan de Pareja. The pleasing, realistic oil paintings include a well-done replica of the famous painting. Those who appreciated the personal connections between grandmother and grandson in the earlier book will again be satisfied with this story, which incorporates Spanish phrases in the long, descriptive text.

Horn Book Guide (Spring 2011)

In this story based on his childhood, Velasquez describes a memorable first visit with his grandmother to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There they see a portrait that serves as young Eric's inspiration for an artistic career. Realistic-looking oil paintings show scenes of New York, from the barrio's markets, as Grandma buys ingredients for a Christmas feast, to the staid museum.

Other Books Written by Eric Velasquez 

Octopus Stew

Looking for Bongo

Grandma's Records

New York Times Bestsellers

 

Cherry, M. A. (2019). Hair love. Kokila.

Overview

A little girl's daddy steps in to help her arrange her curly, coiling, wild hair into styles that allow her to be her natural, beautiful self. 

Evaluation

The inside covers are purple and match the outside cover. Some of the pages are double page format while others are single. Great book to have a discussion on family, love, hair, differences, and finding beauty in ourselves. The story is heartwarming and charming with beautiful illustrations. The story portrays the young girl as recognizing everything her father does. With this text, students can practice making connections, retelling, point of view, and theme. 

Booklist (April 1, 2019 (Vol. 115, No. 15))

Grades K-3. In this endearing take on stories pertaining to promoting natural hairstyles for African American children, Cherry and Harrison create an unforgettable picture book about the bond between an African American father and his daughter. Readers will love the positive language used to describe kinks, coils, braids, twists, and Afro puffs as stylish and regal looks fit for royalty. The illustrations meld perfectly with the story as the illustrious depictions help explain the wonders of hair growth, shrinkage, moisturizing, and styling Black hair. It also features a young, hip dad with beautiful tattoos and his own hair styled in long dreads. The father and daughter’s tender interactions are heartwarming to observe and will easily become a favorite among families. Written and illustrated in a style similar to Natasha Anastasia Tarpley’s I Love My Hair! (1998), Cherry and Harrison’s book provides an engaging and lovable story for younger audiences. Parents, children, caregivers, teachers, and librarians will find this story to be the right fit for their bookshelves.

Kirkus Reviews (March 15, 2019)

A black girl helps her dad learn how to give her the perfect hairstyle for a very special day. Zuri’s voluminous head of hair “has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way.” She is pictured asleep with a large Afro framing her face. She is proud of her hair, which she sometimes wears in braids with beads like a princess and other times in pigtail puffs. But today is a special day. She knows Daddy is “worn-out” and probably needs a break, so she lets him sleep in while she looks up hairstyles on a tablet. When Daddy wakes and offers to help, he tries a series of hairstyles that just don’t work. Finally, Zuri grabs some hair supplies and shows him a tutorial. “Watching carefully… / Daddy combed, / parted, oiled, and twisted. / He nailed it!” Zuri is lovely and happy with her freshly done hairstyle, and when Mommy arrives to their “Welcome Home” sign, she loves Zuri’s look too. The digital illustrations feature details that feel just right: Zuri’s thick, textured hair, Daddy’s locs and tattoo, and dark-skinned Mom’s bright headwrap. While it’s unclear where Mommy is returning from (she is dressed casually and has a rolling black suitcase), this authentic depiction of a loving and whole black family broadens the scope of representation. Positively refreshing. (Picture book. 4-9)

Daywalt, D. (2013). The day the crayons quit. Philomel Books.

Overview

When Duncan arrives at school one morning, he finds a stack of letters, one from each of his crayons, complaining about how he uses them. 

Evaluation

The inside covers are filled with different colored crayons. When the book jacket is removed, the cover is the exact same thing. The story is mainly written in letter format with the illustrations resembling a real kids artwork.  The story is humorous with the storyline from the crayons point of view. The pages become redundant with a letter of complaint from one of the crayons. With this text, students can discuss perspectives, emotions, persuasion, and letter writing. 

Publishers Weekly (June 22, 2015)

How do you follow a hit like The Day the Crayons Quit? Stick with what works, and add a twist: instead of letters, Duncan receives a stack of postcards from crayons that have been misplaced or maligned, or are ready for adventure. A directionally challenged neon red crayon tries to get home after being abandoned at a motel; a trip through the dryer has left a turquoise crayon stuck to a sock; and a chunky toddler crayon can't abide Duncan's baby brother ("Picasso said every child is an artist, but I dunno"). Once again, Daywalt and Jeffers create rich emotional lives and personalities for their colorful cast, and it's hard to imagine a reader who won't be delighted. Ages 5-8. Author's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. Illustrator's agent: Paul Moreton, Bell, Lomax, Moreton Agency. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal (August 1, 2015)

K-Gr 2-Duncan's crayons are back in this companion to the spectacular The Day the Crayons Quit (Philomel, 2014), and they are just as forthright as ever. A stack of postcards arrive for the neglectful boy, this time written by a new batch of crayons who have been forgotten at motels, lost under the couch, or left behind in the basement. Maroon has been marooned under the sofa, having been broken by Duncan's dad, who sat on it, Tan (or Burnt Sienna) has seen better days and has recently been puked up by the dog, and old frenemies Orange and Yellow have melted in the sun to become one gooey mess. Recurring postcards from Pea Green (aka Esteban), who dreams of traveling, and clueless Neon Red, who writes about grand adventures abroad, will elicit giggles from young ones. Jeffers's mixed-media illustrations of photographed postcards and childlike crayon drawings against white backdrops enhance kid appeal and encourage close visual reading. A glow-in-the-dark spread and chatty household items, such as a sock, a paper clip, and a pencil sharpener, are new aspects to look forward to, and the general theme of home being a place where everyone belongs will resonate with old and young readers alike. VERDICT A brilliant, colorful tale that begs to be read aloud and a must-have for all collections.-Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Other Books Written by Drew Daywalt 

The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors

The Epic Adventures of Huggie & Stick

Sleepy, the Goodnight Buddy

de la Pena, M. (2021). Milo imagines the world. G. P. Putnam's Sons.

Overview

While Milo and his sister travel to a detention center to visit their incarcerated mother, he observes strangers on the subway and draws what he imagines their lives to be. 

Evaluation

Milo's hat on the cover matches the inside cover of the book. The author portrays Milo has an artist who draws pictures of the passengers on the subway and make up stories about who they are and where they are going. The illustrations are beautiful and depict the important aspects of African American people. The moral of the story is we shouldn't judge people in a short encounter by the way they dress. There are many reading skills that can be taught using this text such as, character traits, summary, point of view, theme, and making inferences. 

Publishers Weekly starred (January 4, 2021)

On a long subway ride through New York City, a Black boy named Milo looks around at the other passengers. He wears glasses and an oversize hat, and carries a sketch pad. His older sister sits next to him, busy with her phone, but they feel the same mixture of emotions: "Excitement stacked on top of worry/ on top of confusion/ on top of love." Where are they going? Readers know only that the siblings take this journey once a month, on a Sunday. Working in blocky forms and warm, bright colors, Robinson creates a subway car full of distinct personalities as a tapestry of city life unspools in front of Milo. A Black woman in a wedding dress, a group of break-dancing girls with various skin tones, a jacketed white boy with neatly combed hair and spotless white Nikes-Milo imagines existences for them all, drawing in his sketchbook as readers look over his shoulder. For the boy in white shoes, Milo invents a princely existence, with a castle and servants to bring him food. But the boy gets off the same stop as Milo and waits in line at the same place, a moment that transforms Milo’s view of the people whose lives he’s imagined: "Maybe you can’t really know anyone just by looking at their face." In this rich, multilayered journey, the award-winning creators of Last Stop on Market Street celebrate a city’s kaleidoscope of scenes, offer a glimpse at a child’s experience with parental incarceration, and convey that child’s keen observations about his circumstances and surroundings. Ages 4-8. Agent (for de la Peña and Robinson): Steven Malk, Writers House. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal (January 1, 2021)

K-Gr 3-The creators of the Newbery Award-winning Last Stop on Market Street team up for another journey with a life lesson on a child's level. This time, Milo and his teen sister, who are both Black, take a long subway ride together. Big sister is glued to her cell phone and bespectacled Milo draws the lives he imagines for other passengers on the train. Maybe the whiskered man doing crosswords lives all alone with parakeets and a cat. Maybe the little white boy in a suit lives in a castle. Maybe the wedding dress lady and her groom will take flight in a hot air balloon after the ir nuptials. Initially, this appears to be a story about how being observant feeds the creative process, but when Milo and his sister arrive at the prison where their mother is incarcerated, the white boy from the train is also there to visit his own mother. "Maybe you can't really know anyone just by looking at their face," thinks Milo. Robinson captures the vivacity of the New York City subway with his acrylic paint and collage and faux naïve style, while other spreads show Milo's childlike crayon drawings. The text is rich with words like tepid, mewling, and infinite, and vividly compares Milo's excitement to "shook-up soda," while the happy bride has "a face made out of light." VERDICT Pictures brimming with activity, an endearing main character, and threads for thinking about art, families, and what we see in others make this a book that will hold up to many readings.-Jan Aldrich Solow, formerly Fairfax County Public Sch., VA © Copyright 2021. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Other Books Written by Matt de la Pena

Last Stop on Market Street
Love
Carmela Full of Wishes

Harris, M. (2021). Ambitious girl. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Overview

A girl sees a woman labeled as having too much ambition, but when the girl considers its definition, she finds herself inspired and realizes ambition is required to make changes to the world and have her voice be heard. 

Evaluation

The story is inspiring, empowering, and delivers a positive message to the readers. The message is clear and easily understood by young readers without talking down to them. The illustrations are amazing and allow young girls to see themselves in the story. The words and pictures embrace different types of females' backgrounds and their inner beauty. With this text, students can learn about female figures, making connections, and important vocabulary. 

Booklist (January 1, 2021 (Vol. 117, No. 9))

Grades K-3. Harris' empowering picture book about overcoming obstacles to reach a goal stars an irrepressible Black girl who finds strength in various role models. Blocky, charcoal-colored fonts, saying "too loud," "too persistent," "too ambitious," and "too too too" are dismaying to the girl, but soft shades and expressive fonts gradually overtake those scenes with encouraging language alongside images of strong, powerful women. Bolstered by the strong women in her family, the little girl finds confidence, and the joy is palpable as women of all backgrounds crowd together in warm scenes in cheery yellows, oranges, and purples. Together they tackle barriers by bringing forth their collective sunshine. This invigorating girl-power story demonstrates that overcoming prejudice is possible with confidence and support, and it nicely emphasizes the positive connotations of words that often are applied to women in a negative way. The lively illustrations show a wide, inclusive array of women and girls, and the narrator, with her bouncy, tight curls and confident stature, steals the spotlight. An optimistic and refreshing call to unity and social justice.

Publishers Weekly (January 18, 2021)

Harris and Valdez’s appreciable celebration of female ambition begins with a televised broadcast of a Black female speaker being labeled "too assertive, too persistent, too ambitious, too loud." In Valdez’s bright, largely unlined art, a brown-skinned girl, who walks up the street with three older Black women, is not discouraged by what she sees. Though she sometimes hears "you’re ‘too that’ or you’re ‘too this,’ " her mother explains that historical figures, shown in a navy wash, "have opened so many doors," paving the way for this child’s hopes and desires to flourish. The same words once used to criticize the televised woman are seen in a new, positive light by book’s end: digital art shows the girl taking a stage of her own, where she proudly exclaims that she, too, is "AMBITIOUS!" Ages 4-8. (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Other Books Written by Meena Harris

Kamala and Maya's Big Idea

Higgins, R. T. (2018). We don't eat our classmates. Disney.

Overview

When the class pet bites the finger of Penelope, a tyrannosaurus rex, she finally understands why she should not eat her classmates, no matter how tasty they are. 

Evaluation

The story allows the reader to see themselves and examine their behaviors without pointing fingers. Great book to compare our actions to Penelope's and how we can turn the situations around, learn from them, use empathy, and how to start over to making friends. The pictures are terrific and represent a diverse community within the school. With this text, students can analyze the story structure, theme, sentence types, and vocabulary. 

Booklist (August 2018 (Online))

Grades K-2. The first day of school is coming, and Penelope, an orange T. rex with the air of a squishy stuffed animal, is nervous about making friends. But her lunch of 300 sandwiches is packed, and her backpack, featuring delicious ponies, is ready to go. Sensing a theme? Penelope thinks with her stomach—a trait that gets her into trouble when she discovers that her classroom is populated entirely by tasty, tasty children. Penelope promptly eats them all. She spits them out, but it’s a little hard to make friends after that. Her dad tries to explain why people don’t like being eaten, but it’s not until Penelope makes a lonely attempt to befriend the classroom goldfish that she truly understands. The students in Penelope’s class are diverse in skin tone and background: one student wears a hijab, another a yarmulke, and one, of course, is a dinosaur. Despite all the chomping, the bright colors and deceptively adorable dinosaurs make this a fun read rather than a scary one, with a hidden lesson about boundaries. Too much fun for a single read.

Horn Book Guide starred (Spring 2019)

On the first day of school, Tyrannosaurus rex Penelope does what any nervous dino would do: she eats her human classmates (then spits them out). Then the class goldfish takes a bite of her finger: "Once Penelope found out what it was like to be someone's snack, she lost her appetite for children." Higgins builds his humorous, soft-around-the-edges cast out of dinosaurishly lumpy-craggy art.

Other Books Written by Ryan T. Higgins

Hotel Bruce

What About Worms!?

We Will Rock Our Classmates

John, J., & Oswald, P. (2019). The good egg. HarperCollins Children's Books.

Overview

A very good egg learns to relax and not be perfect all the time.

Evaluation

The book jacket and book cover are the same with the inside covers with pictures of breakfast items. The moral of the story is we can't put so much pressure on ourselves and it is ok to be imperfect at times. Depicts the importance of accepting ourselves and others for who they are. The illustrations are detailed and well done. With this text, students can identify character traits as well as using the illustrations to increase meaning.

Booklist starred (January 1, 2019 (Vol. 115, No. 9))

Grades K-3. This is another thought- and laughter-provoking morality tale from the creators of The Bad Seed​ (2017). Where the bad seed went out of his way to be rude and mean, the good egg knocks himself out helping others. We meet this paragon of virtue, a speckled brown egg with enormous eyes magnified by huge round glasses, as he rescues a cat from a tree. The egg narrates his own story, telling of his many commendable deeds (the reader may suspect he’s a bit of an egg-omaniac). The art, using watercolor textures and digital paint, is filled with comic detail, as in the curved piece of bacon that captures the bent form of an elderly woman whom the good egg helps across the street, or in the good egg’s 11 siblings, who upend every scene they’re in with their pranks. The narrator is a one-egg rescue squad and cleanup crew, until one day his brain feels scrambled and he starts to crack—literally. Realizing he "can't be the only good egg in a bad carton," he leaves for some relaxation and much-needed "me time." Eventually he returns home a better egg, having learned not to be so hard on others (like his carton mates) or, more important, on himself. An enormously entertaining lesson about the perils of perfectionism.

Horn Book Guide starred (Fall 2019)

In this humorous picture book, the protagonist is "a good egg," but the same cannot be said about the eleven others in his dozen. The pressure of policing everyone's behavior makes him crack (literally), so he strikes out on his own. The simple lessons in John's light-and-breezy text are useful; Oswald's textured watercolor and digital illustrations show an egghead personified, and one for whom readers will cheer.

Other Books Written by Jory John

The Couch Potato

The Cool Bean

The Smart Cookie

Lang, S. (2018). Grumpy monkey. Random House.

Overview

Jim Panzee wakes up in a bad mood one beautify day, but he keeps denying he is grumpy even as his friends give advice for feeling better.

Evaluation

Hilarious picture book perfect for children learning how to deal with feelings. The illustrations are funny and appealing and anyone could relate to Jim Panzee. The message is easily depicted by saying it is ok to be grumpy, but need to be careful how our grumpiness can get in the way of treating others. With this text, students discuss how characters change from beginning to the end.

Kirkus Reviews (March 1, 2018)

It’s a wonderful day in the jungle, so why’s Jim Panzee so grumpy? When Jim woke up, nothing was right: "The sun was too bright, the sky was too blue, and bananas were too sweet." Norman the gorilla asks Jim why he’s so grumpy, and Jim insists he’s not. They meet Marabou, to whom Norman confides that Jim’s grumpy. When Jim denies it again, Marabou points out that Jim’s shoulders are hunched; Jim stands up. When they meet Lemur, Lemur points out Jim’s bunchy eyebrows; Jim unbunches them. When he trips over Snake, Snake points out Jim’s frown…so Jim puts on a grimacelike smile. Everyone has suggestions to brighten his mood: dancing, singing, swinging, swimming…but Jim doesn’t feel like any of that. He gets so fed up, he yells at his animal friends and stomps off…then he feels sad about yelling. He and Norman (who regrets dancing with that porcupine) finally just have a sit and decide it’s a wonderful day to be grumpy—which, of course, makes them both feel a little better. Suzanne Lang’s encouragement to sit with your emotions (thus allowing them to pass) is nearly Buddhist in its take, and it will be great bibliotherapy for the crabby, cranky, and cross. Oscar-nominated animator Max Lang’s cartoony illustrations lighten the mood without making light of Jim’s mood; Jim has comically long arms, and his facial expressions are quite funny. Though Jim may have been grumpy because a chimp’s an ape and not a monkey, readers will enjoy and maybe learn from his journey. (Picture book. 4-8)

Publishers Weekly Annex (June 4, 2018)

A monkey learns to ride out a wave of emotion in this reassuring picture book about feelings from the creators of Families, Families, Families! After Jim Panzee wakes up on the wrong side of the tree, nothing seems right: "The sun was too bright, the sky was too blue, and the bananas were too sweet." His neighbor Norman suggests that he may just be grumpy, though Jim insists that's not the problem. On a walk through the jungle, everyone he meets offers advice for changing his mood: "'You should sing with us!'/... 'You should lie in the grass!'/... 'You should take a bath!'" When he's had his fill of cheery recommendations, he storms off. It's not until he re-encounters Norman, who's now nursing an injury, that Jim realizes they will both "probably feel better soon enough," and that he just needs to be grumpy for a while. Lang nimbly creates an animal cast with expressive cartoonish eyes and exaggerated facial expressions, which make their antics in the playful text all the more humorous. Ages 4-8. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Other Books Written by Suzanne Lang

Families, Families, Families! 

Grumpy Monkey, Party Time! 

All Kinds of Families

Pearlmann, R. (2020). The office: a day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Overview

Michael Scott is line leader at Dunder Mifflin Elementary. It's a very big job, but Michael is sure he can live up to the 'World's Best Line Leader' title printed on his water bottle. There's just one problem, Michael doesn't know how to lead the line.

Evaluation

The illustrations are wonderful and kid friendly. The author does not include sarcasm or mean attitudes. The book has funny parts and learning aspects as well while including the iconic aspects of The Office. While the author use the office setting, it also teaches how to work through situations.

Kirkus Reviews (February 1, 2021)

An earnest but incompetent kid strives to bring order to his elementary school classroom in this picture-book companion to the TV show The Office. When Michael Scott is appointed class Line Leader at Dunder Mifflin Elementary, he has his mom fashion him a sippy cup that reads “World’s Best Line Leader.” A kid named Dwight observes the chaos in the classroom—which is mystifyingly devoid of adults for the entire book—and tells Michael he might need some help. Other kids agree. Accepting Dwight as Assistant to the Line Leader, Michael proceeds to tell Angela to plan a party to be held in five minutes’ time and then struggles to fulfill his function by lining the kids up. Several pages of ineffectual lining-up later, Pam suggests Michael ask for help. A brainstorming session yields several ideas, including “beet harvesting,…pretzel toppings, cuteness, [and the] buddy system.” As Michael surveys his classmates happily eating cake, he concludes, “I lead a great class.” In Demmer’s cartoon illustrations, all the kids have a bobblehead look, with wide, staring eyes; most, including Michael, present White. Periodically the narrative stops to allow one or two students to break the fourth wall and comment on the action in some fashion. These interruptions are in keeping with the TV show’s formula but do not provide enough scaffolding to allow child readers to understand what’s going on; nonsensical dialogue (“A mistake plus Keleven equals seven!”) likewise excludes children from the joke. Adult readers with familiarity with the TV series may find it hilarious. Readers with no familiarity—that is, just about every single kid in this book’s putative audience—will not. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11.4-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 51.5% of actual size.) A picture book for The Office–loving adults to read by themselves. (Picture book. 4-8)

Publishers Weekly (August 10, 2020)

The core dynamic of hit TV show The Office was childish behavior, so transferring the characters to an early elementary school setting should be a no-brainer. Certainly it doesn’t take a big leap of imagination to see Michael Scott, the book’s narrator, as an eager but highly disorganized line leader ("I don’t have a plan," he says, looking at the reader as a "World’s Best Line Leader" sippy cup sits on his desk), and Dwight Schrute as his overly ambitious "Assistant to the Line Leader." The rest of the cast is here, too, drawn by Demmer (A Place for Pluto) in a wide-eyed cartoon style with just enough distinctive features to recall the cast of the American series. Pearlman (Pink Is for Boys) layers in the interesting idea that Michael’s line anxieties aren’t wholly unwarranted-there are a lot of ways to organize a line, which could inspire some lively discussion and even fun classroom activities. But the repackaging stumbles with bland jokes ("That’s what she said") and in its portrayal of Toby, whose exclusion and bullying by others-played for rueful laughs in the television series-is downright mean here. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Other Books Written by Robb Pearlman

Pink is for boys

Groundhog's Day Off

Bob Ross and Peapod the Squirrel

Rubin, A. (2012). Dragons love tacos. Dial Books for Young Readers.

Overview

Explores the love dragons have for tacos, and the dangers of feeding them anything with spicy salsa.

Evaluation

The book jacket and cover are the same with the inside covers with tacos. The inside book jackets tell you what you need in order to host a party and ingredients on making your own book that resembles Dragons Loves Tacos. The story is hilarious and illustrations sweep you into a world filled with dragons who love tacos. With this text, students can practice making predictions, cause and effect, making connections, and author's purpose.

Publishers Weekly (April 9, 2012)

Rubin and Salmieri (Those Darn Squirrels!) are two of the weirdest, funniest guys working in kids' lit today. The team lets its geek flag fly in an obsessive how-to guide for would-be dragon taco party hosts. Why a taco party? As Rubin explains, "The only things dragons love more than parties or tacos, is taco parties." If further proof is required, Salmieri-whose poker-faced watercolor, gouache, and color pencil drawings set a benchmark for oddball observational humor-shows one odd, scaly creature with a carryout bag from "Taco Cave" and another beaming with anticipation as it eagerly circles the date for a taco party on its taco-themed calendar. But beware: even if all the tips and rules are followed to the letter (on quantity: "The best way to judge is to get a boat and fill the boat with tacos"), all will be for naught if spicy salsa makes its way into the taco filling. In fact, the dragons will bring a whole new meaning to "housewarming." Off-kilter fun for those who like their picture books (and salsa) zesty and fresh. Ages 3-5. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal (June 1, 2012)

PreS-Gr 2-The goofy creators of Those Darn Squirrels! (2008) and Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door (2010, both Clarion) are back with another wacky story. Given the cover image of a red dragon gorging itself on tacos and the taco-filled endpapers, readers are prepared for the sheer silliness of this offering. A bemused young dragon fan and his dog are given the inside scoop on the best way to entertain dragons-with a taco party. A helpful narrator offers the boy advice about planning the festivities, informing him that dragons love tacos-beef tacos, chicken tacos, gigantic tacos, and tiny tacos. But those preparing to host these parties are cautioned to keep any kind of spicy salsa off the menu or suffer the consequences. After filling his house with tacos, getting rid of the salsa, and letting the party begin, the host is sure he's properly prepared, but he's missed the jalapenos peppers listed in the fine print of the "Totally Mild Salsa." Uh, oh! The watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil cartoon illustrations are the real stars here, extending the frivolous text. Regardless of, or perhaps because of, the absurdity of the story, this tale should be a big hit with anyone with an affinity for dragons.-Sharon Grover, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Other Books Written by Adam Rubin

Secret Pizza Party

High Five

Dragons Love Tacos 2: the Sequel

Wade, C. (2021). What the road said. Feiwel and Friends.

Overview

"Which way do I go? That is your choice to make, said the Road. But what if I go the wrong way? The Road curved a little, almost as if it was giving me a hug, and said, Do not worry. Sometimes we go the wrong way on our way to the right way".

Evaluation

The book is beautifully illustrated with double-spread layout. The book is written in a question-answer format. The book ask questions and answers them in a simple and reassuring way. Great book for children and adults who might be changing their life plans. The messages throughout the book do not come off as preachy or talking down to the reader.

Kirkus Reviews (April 15, 2021)

From an artist, poet, and Instagram celebrity, a pep talk for all who question where a new road might lead. Opening by asking readers, “Have you ever wanted to go in a different direction,” the unnamed narrator describes having such a feeling and then witnessing the appearance of a new road “almost as if it were magic.” “Where do you lead?” the narrator asks. The Road’s twice-iterated response—“Be a leader and find out”—bookends a dialogue in which a traveler’s anxieties are answered by platitudes. “What if I fall?” worries the narrator in a stylized, faux hand-lettered type Wade’s Instagram followers will recognize. The Road’s dialogue and the narration are set in a chunky, sans-serif type with no quotation marks, so the one flows into the other confusingly. “Everyone falls at some point, said the Road. / But I will always be there when you land.” Narrator: “What if the world around us is filled with hate?” Road: “Lead it to love.” Narrator: “What if I feel stuck?” Road: “Keep going.” De Moyencourt illustrates this colloquy with luminous scenes of a small, brown-skinned child, face turned away from viewers so all they see is a mop of blond curls. The child steps into an urban mural, walks along a winding country road through broad rural landscapes and scary woods, climbs a rugged metaphorical mountain, then comes to stand at last, Little Prince–like, on a tiny blue and green planet. Wade’s closing claim that her message isn’t meant just for children is likely superfluous…in fact, forget the just. Inspiration, shrink wrapped. (Picture book. 6-8, adult)

Publishers Weekly (April 19, 2021)

The road is not only a metaphor for life’s journey in this meditative picture book but also a supportive and wise friend accompanying readers on their individual paths. A young narrator wonders if there is "something more... something just.../ different" before happening upon a new road and asking where it leads. The road responds, "Be a leader and find out." Thus begins a conversation between the two that results in encouraging, confident answers to questions such as, "What if I get lost?" "What if I get lonely?" and "What if the world around us is filled with hate?" Alongside de Moyencourt’s vividly colored, bucolic scenes of the natural world, accessible language and a heartfelt tone make this a meta guide for a broad range of readers finding their way to their future. Ages 6-10. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Other Books Written by Cleo Wade

Heart Talk

Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life

Where to Begin: a Small Book About Your Power to Create Big Change in Our Crazy World