Category: Book Reviews

Masi celebrates friends from A to Z from around the world through a remixed, old-school playground song. Friends, neighbors, and family accompany each girl as they alliteratively chant their names, the countries they live in, and qualities about themselves. “N, my name is NELLY, and my granny’s name is NINA./ We come from NEW ZEALAND, and we are NURTURING.” Although the colorful illustrations honor ethnic and racial diversity along with depictions of varied abilities, face and body shape remains consistent throughout. The descriptive vocabulary included in this text can spark interesting discussions, in addition to exploring the geography of the world.

A young child named Milo and his older sister are taking a long subway ride. To pass the time, and distract himself from “the excitement stacked on top of worry on top of confusion on top of love,” Milo takes out his sketchpad and draws the people he sees on the subway, imagining what their lives are like. A boy wearing a suit and bright white Nikes enters their subway. Milo draws a picture of him as a prince in a castle with service staff and a petit crown on his head. Milo tries to think of what people might imagine about his own life and draws that too. Above ground, the sibling pair head into a brick building with metal detectors. To Milo’s surprise, he sees the boys with the white Nikes. They are going to the same place, to visit their mothers in prison. Milo learns you can’t know everything about someone just by looking at them, but it is fun to imagine. 

This book’s descriptive text and narrative illustrations compliment each other perfectly. Diversity in race, family structure, and socioeconomic representation. Another home-run for this author and illustrator team and a must have for 2021.

Another favorite from Jason Reynolds!
Two brothers from Brooklyn spend a month during summer vacation with their grandparents in Virginia. It is not just the scenery that is different- there’s no cell reception, no internet, chores to be done, and their grandparents to mind them. Complex family dynamics, rich character development, and small mysteries unravel in this heartwarming story of what it means to be brave.

You Are Stardust by Elin Kelsey

This book will definitely spark a child’s curiosity about the world around them. Elin Kelsey explores topics of the universe and nature through simple and lighthearted text complimented by beautiful artwork. Soyeon Kim captivates her audience with magical three dimensional dioramas that jump off the page.

Like this book? Try Infinity and Me by Kate Hosford