This book is a collection of poems and illustrations by poets and artists who share childhood memories that have stuck with them through their lives. They reflect on their heritage, traditions, beliefs, and values that are a part of their diverse backgrounds. Each poem is paired with a beautiful illustration that captures on the themes […]
Category: Class Reviews 2020-2021
Drawn Together
Written by MINH LÊ Illustrated by DAN SANTAT Reviewed by Maddie McBride (LC MAT 2020-2021) At first glance, one might think that this story is simply about a strong connection between a grandfather and a grandson. However, within the first few pages, just through illustration, we learn that their connection was not always as close […]
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Written and Illustrated by Grace Lin Reviewed by Julia Marlin Minli and her parents live in a village in the Valley of Fruitless Mountain where everything is dry and faded brown. All day, Minli and her parents work in the fields, trying to “coax rice out of the stubborn land.” Minli’s only escape from the […]
Anh’s Anger by Gail Silver & Christiane Kromer
Anh’s Anger written by Gail Silver and illustrated by Christiane Kromer Reviewed by Sarah Conley “‘Finally!’ said a voice. ‘I was hoping you would notice me.’ Anh lifted his head and came face-to-face with a hairy, red creature.” Anh’s Anger is a beautifully illustrated story about a young boy and his experience with […]
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
Author: Kadir Nelson Author Kadir Nelson sought to capture the joy of living in and engaging with the world which was inspired by the song’s simple message, “he’s got the whole world in his hands.” If you are looking for a book which most importantly portrays the world as a child might see it — […]
I Am Perfectly Designed
Written by: Jason Brown and Karamo Brown Illustrated by: Anoosha Syed Reviewed by: Macey Putnam (2020-2021) “An ode to loving who you are, exactly as you are.” I am Perfectly Designed is a book that celebrates who you are and reminds the reader, no matter how they might feel, they are perfectly designed just the […]
Fatty Legs
Written by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton Illustrated by Liz Amini-Holmes “This book is a rare book” proclaims the first line of the foreword in this book. And it is. Fatty Legs is the true story of an Inuit girl, Olemaun (or Margaret) who leaves her home in the Arctic Circle to attend a […]
The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth and Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth and Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Reviewed by Isabelle Grant. “When Dad went to a bank to borrow money to open a bookstore for black people, the banker said no. He said Dad could have a loan to sell fish and chips or […]
The Undefeated
The Undefeated By Kwame Alexander, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. The Undefeated is an illustrated poem that serves as “a love letter to black life in the United States.” The book begins by honoring the resiliency of Black Americans in the face of “unspeakable” tragedies since enslavement, then proclaiming the fierce bravery of activists who changed […]
Jacob Riis’s Camera: Bringing Light too Tenement Children
This picture book details the life of Jacob Riis and how he fought to change New York City for the better. Riis was an immigrant from Denmark who came to New York to make his fortune, but like so many others in the 1800s he found that jobs for immigrants in America were difficult to […]