Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes

 

Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance

by Nikki Grimes

Bloomsbury, 2021, 144 pages

A number of things came together in creating this volume of poems. First, there were a number of relatively unknown women poets writing during the Harlem Renaissance, that period beginning in 1918 through the min-1930s when African American arts flourished. Second, there is the relatively new poetic form devised by poet Terrance Hayne called the Golden Shovel. Third, there is the incomparable poet Nikki Grimes. Put together, the result is Legacy, a collection of poems by African American women poets who are celebrated in new contemporary poems by Nikki Grimes utilizing the Golden Shovel form,  connecting today's readers with these Black feminist writers across time and space.

Legacy begins with a poem by Nikki Grimes in the voice of a young girl, whose teacher is telling her that she needs to find her "girl power," that it is "Time you learn/ a little history./ The women in our race/ have always gone/ from strength to strength." She then hands her three books on the Harlem Renaissance. The young girl's journey begins by reading Part I of Legacy called "Heritage," followed by Part II "Mother Earth" and Part III "Taking Notice." The books then ends with a poem called "Journey's End," giving her thoughts about what she has read and that has changed her. 

There are 19 poems by women of the Harlem Renaissance, such as Anne Spencer, Mae V. Cowdery, and Blanche Taylor Dickinson, among others. Their poetry reflects the historical times in which they as Black women lived and wrote. Each one of the 19 poems is paired with a poem by Nikki Grimes reflecting today's world and Black women's response to it. Added to these poems are 19 original illustrations beautifully paired with each poem set. These are by such esteemed artists as Ekua Holmes, Ebony Glenn, Vashti Harrison and others and are done in bold full color using various medians. Below is one of my favorite poems sets with an illustration by Keisha Morris.

Click to Enlarge

Front matter includes a Preface, information about The Harlem Renaissance, and the Poetry Form used. Back matter includes a short biography of each poet, a short biography of each artist,  a list of Sources, print and digital, and an Index. 

 

It only seemed appropriate to end Women's History Month 2021 with this collection of feminist oriented poetry. I hope you are as moved by these poets, past and present, as I am. 

This book is recommended for readers age 10+

This book was an eARC gratefully received from NetGalley

Amina's Song by Hena Khan

 

We first met Amina Khokar, a middle grader living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Amina's Voice. She's a Pakistani American and even though she has perfect pitch and a beautiful singing voice, she also had crippling stage fright. With the support of family, especially her uncle Thaya Jaan visiting from Pakistan, and friends, Amina was able to ultimately perform in public.

Now, Amina and her family are spending their summer vacation visiting family in Lahore, Pakistan. Amina has fallen in love with the country and has become very close to her cousin Zohra, Thaya Jaan's daughter. Just before they leave Pakistan to return home, Thaya Jaan challenges her to "show people in America the beauty of Pakistan. They don't know this place like you do now." How, Amina wonders, is she supposed to the that?

Back home, Amina and her friends are starting 7th grade, but to her disappointment, no one seems interested in hearing about her trip to Pakistan. However, when her history teacher gives the class an interactive learning assignment on the first day of class, Amina may have just found the outlet she needs for carrying out Thaya Jaan's challenge. Students must pick a person from history who has made a positive contribution and thoroughly research them, to the point of becoming the person they pick by the end of the term.  

Amina is excited to pick Malala Yousafzai, but when she presents her initial report to the class, it isn't her accomplishments that the class focuses on, but rather the oppressive conditions by the Taliban in Pakistan with regard to women and girls. Again, Amina is disappointed and frustrated. What can she do to help people know the Pakistan she loves so much?

Meanwhile, Amina meets Nico, a new kids in school who is also very much interested in music and has a real talent for mixing to create different sounds. Encouraged by her music teacher, Ms. Holly, Amina has been playing around with composing songs to express herself. She's been keep a diary of her thoughts and feelings for a while, recognizing that her experiences have changed her, but unable to express them quite the way she wants. Could a song be the answer with Nico's help?   

On top of that, Amina learns that her uncle Thaya Jaan has become ill again and will require delicate heart surgery.  Seventh grade is proving to be a year of changes, challenges, identity questions and more for 12-year-old Amina Khokar, all of which makes for a very satisfying sequel. 

In Amina's Voice, most of the conflicts in Amina's life were external, but in Amina's Song, they are more internal, having to do with who she is and is becoming. Though Amina is changing and growing up, she narrates her life with the same open honesty as in Amina's Voice, even when things aren't going as well as they could. And she is still somewhat flawed, which makes her a very interesting character. I felt she is a more confident girl and I liked especially liked seeing the changes she goes through, even challenging some of her mother's control. I have to admit, the way she handled the history project and her uncle's challenge surprised me and at first seemed so out character, but then I also cheered her on for it, even if her teacher was not receptive. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Amina's Song and wondered if there might be a third novel in the making, since this one left a few loose ends that could be tied up nicely. Meanwhile, I highly recommend this to fans of Amina's and to those who haven't met her, though I might consider reading book one first. There are references to it in Amina's Song, but they are made clear in Amina's Voice. 

This book is recommended for readers age 9+

This book was an eARC gratefully received from NetGalley

Three Picture Books for Passover

 

Here are three new picture books you might like to share with your young readers during the eight days of Passover. First up is a new version of an old favorite.

The Passover Guest by Susan Kusel,

illustrated by Sean Rubin

Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2021, 40 pages

It's the eve of Passover 1933 and in the midst the Depression, no one is able to prepare a proper Seder. That includes young Muriel and her family. They barely have wine to pour into Elijah's cup for when he visits. On her way home, Muriel sees a magician in threadbare clothes juggling eggs that turn into lit candles as his clothing changes into silk. Amazed, Muriel gives him her only penny. The magician tells her to hurry home for her Seder, and even knowing there is no food in the house, Muriel heads home to her apartment, where she finds her parents sitting in front of Elijah's almost empty cup. When there is a knock on the door, it is the magician who points out the suddenly and miraculously overly full Seder table, complete with everything needed. Unsure about this, Muriel rushes to the rabbi's house, who returns home with Muriel and a crowd of others who also had empty Seder tables. Everyone enjoys their now wonderful first night of Passover, but Muriel wonders how did this miracle happen? Then she sees Elijah's now empty cup and has the answer to her question. Based on the original Yiddish tale "The Magician" by I.L. Peretz (Der Kuntsenmakher, 1917), Kusel's retelling feels fresh and carries a message of faith and hope that today's readers can really benefit from. The original story took place in a shtetl, this version is set during the Great Depression for today's readers living through a pandemic where so many have felt economic hardship again. The illustrations, done with graphite and digital color, nicely contrast spring's awakening in Washington DC in bright sunny colors with the poverty of so many of it's residents, including Muriel's family, done in dark shades of brown and gray. Back matter includes A Note from the Author, A Note from the Artist, and A Note on the Passover Holiday.    

This book was an eARC gratefully received from Edelweiss+

Baby Moses in a Basket by Caryn Yacowitz,

illustrated by Julie Downing

Candlewick Press, 2021, 32 pages

Though it doesn't go into detail about the Passover story from Exodus, in which Moses was placed in a basket and set to drift down the Nile to save him from Pharaoh's wrath in the hope that he would be found and safe, this is still a charming story for younger readers. In a wordless two page spread, the fearful face of the woman by the river where she has just sent her baby off in a basket will give children the sense of the danger and parents the option of telling youngster as much or as little about why this happened as they think their children can handle. What follows, however, is the story of baby Moses' journey down the Nile. Told in rhyming quatrains, the story follows Moses in his basket and the different animals he encounters as he floats downstream, who all help him along the way. The ibis gently pushes Moses out of the reeds he is caught in, a mama hippo rises from the water and nudges the now sleeping baby along, while a crocodile protects him through a storm, until the currents eventually cause him to drift to shore. There, the Pharaoh's daughter, who has been bathing in the Nile River, hears the whimpering baby and pulls him from the water. It ends with a wordless two page spread of the Pharaoh's daughter holding up baby Moses surrounded by the helper animals. This is a sweet and hopeful story, though not necessarily true to the original story in the Bible, and the beautifully lush, detailed watercolor illustrations, done in healthy shades of blues and greens, add much to it. 

I received this book from Candlewick Press in exchange for a honest review

The Passover Mouse by Joy Nelkin Wieder,

illustrated by Shahar Kober

Doubleday BFYR, 2021, 32 pages

This story is based on an actual passage in the Talmud, which discusses the laws and customs of Passover, that considers the question of what to do about a mouse who might steal a piece of leavened bread before it is destroyed. In this story, Rivka is a widow living alone. She's just finished cleaning her house the day before Passover and has all her leavened bread out to be burned the next morning, according to custom. But before that happens, a white mouse runs off with a piece of the bread from Rivka's and straight into the cobbler's house with it. But then a black mouse runs out of the cobbler's house with a piece of bread and straight into the matchmaker's house. Suddenly, a cat runs out of the matchmaker's house with a piece of bread in its mouth. Is it the very same piece of bread that went from Rivka's to the cobbler's to the matchmaker's? Or is it a different piece? Will their homes need to be searched again for any leavened bread? The villagers decide to ask the rabbi, who searches his book of Jewish laws and concludes that the matter is undecided. Now what? Everyone is still so much to do before Passover begins. The villagers decide to help each other house by house. Happy for that help, Rivka invites them all to stay for Seder, which everyone enjoys, especially Rivka. And yes, there's a funny bit at the end that I think young readers will get a kick out of. This is a delightfully funny/serious book for young readers with a definite folktale feel. I think kids who are familiar with Passover will definitely enjoy this picture book, but for those who aren't familiar with it, it is a nice introduction to some of the customs and traditions associated with this important holiday. The cartoon-like illustrations are colorful and appealing, even the mice, and do not detract in the least from the seriousness of the preparations for the Passover seder. There is a note at the end about the Talmudic passages the story upon which is based.

This book was borrowed from the NYPL   

If you are looking for Passover books about community, generosity, hope, kindness, and tradition, maybe with a little mischievousness thrown in, you can't go wrong with these three.  

The Sea in Winter by Christine Day

 

Maisie Cannon, 12, has been taking ballet since she was four-years-old, but now she is on a long recovery road after injuring her ACL trying to do an en pointe routine she just wasn't ready for. Now, with the support of her family - mom, stepdad, and younger brother Connor - and lots of physical therapy, Maisie's knee has mended enough that she is permitted to take a family hike along the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. And Maisie is hoping that she will be able to return to ballet in time to audition for a summer dance program. She is so consumed with when she can return to the dance studio, that her grades in school are suffering. 

On top of all that, best friend Eva is convinced she will be accepted into her first choice summer program, but seems totally oblivious to what is going on with Maisie, unlike their friend Hattie. Hattie is concerned that she hasn't heard from Maisie, who is avoiding her text messages. Hattie is also the best dancer of the three friends. At the same time, Maisie has been unaccountably irritated at her parents and Connor, and she is beginning to feel oddly disconnected from herself and those around her. And she's in denial about how serious the pain in her knee is.   

As her family heads out for their road trip during midwinter break, Maisie's dark moods don't improve, nor does the pain in her knee. During the tip, Maisie learns the history of her Native American ancestors. She is Makah on her mother's side, who grew up on northwestern part of Washington State. Maisie's dad was Piscataway, growing up on the Chesapeake Bay. Her stepdad, Jack Leith, is an enrolled citizen of the Lower Elwah Klallam Tribe, and know everything about Klallam and Pacific Northwest history. 

While the family digs for clams, and hikes through the area, Maisie's mother talks to her about how she was able to deal with the sudden death of her husband, finding strength in her Makah heritage. Jack also shares his personal history as part of the Klallam community and what a difference it made in his life, which was at one time heading in the wrong direction.

Despite being careful, Maisie trips and falls, seriously re-injuring her knee, undoing all the hard work she put into healing it. Will she be able to recover and dance again, or will she have to find a new course? And can she mend the friendships she has sabotaged?

When I began reading The Sea in Winter, I expected it to be about a younger girl than Maisie because of the cover and it took me a few pages to readjust my thinking. Once I did that, I was completely hooked on Maisie's story. It is narrated in the first person by her and gives the reader a lot of insight into her thinking and feelings, as well as her struggles. Maisie is heading down a dark path, but luckily she has parents who love her and recognize what is happening. I have to admit that at first I thought Maisie was a bit selfish, but as her emotional state became clearer, I began to feel much more empathic towards her. 

I really liked that Day gave her an intact family that is supportive, warm and loving, and a stepdad who really cares for her as though she were is own child without trying to replace her biological dad. Little brother Connor is a bundle of energy and can be a bit annoying, but it is clear he adores Maisie and the feeling is mutual. Family goes a long way in helping Maisie's recovery and I think the Native histories her parents tell her about also help her to finally begin to have the strength to really heal.

Day's description of the people and places in Maisie's life are so realistic, including the road trip the family took from their home in Seattle to the tip of the Olympic Peninsula. I could almost feel the cold and taste the razor clams the family digs up and cooks. 

The Sea in Winter is a compelling, heartwarming story about facing the loss of a dream and finding your life again after a traumatic injury. I can't recommend it highly enough. 

This book is recommended for readers age 9+

This book was an eARC gratefully received from NetGalley

2020 Pandemic Picture Books We Enjoyed Reading - Part One

 

My young readers and I read some wonderful picture books over the course of the last year and today, I would like to share with you some but not all of our favorite books (there's more to come). These were curated by my 5 and 6 year old readers. 

Julián at the Wedding (Julián #2)

written and illustrated by Jessica Love

*Candlewick Press, 2020, 40 pages

Our favorite mermaid, Julián, is back and so is his wonderfully loving abuela. They are going to the wedding of two young women in a park in Brooklyn. Julián is in the wedding party, along the brides' dog, Gloria, and a new friend named Marisol, the flower girl and granddaughter of his abuela's old friend. A wedding, Julián explains, is a party for love, but sometimes the reception is not very exciting for kids. Soon, Julián, Marisol, and Gloria sneak off to play under a willow tree that he says is a fairy home. But when Marisol's dress gets really dirty playing, Julián comes to the rescue, fashioning her an outfit using his dress shirt and tying it with a willow branch, all the while wearing Marisol flower crown. Marisol's abuela is as understanding as Julián's grandmother, not getting angry about the dirty dress when the kids and dog return to the reception. Instead, everyone hugs and when the music begins, it is time to dance - after all, it is a party for love. This is a beautiful book about celebrating love, accepting people for who they are, and continuing the exploration of gender expansiveness begun in Julián is a Mermaid. The main characters all appear to be Afro-Latinx and Black. The text is spare, letting the illustrations tell most of the story. The watercolor, gouache, and ink illustrations are done on heavy brown paper, giving the colors an unusual vibrancy. I love that a picture book with such an open message about being your authentic self is done with the Statue of Liberty looking on in the background. Approvingly? I think so.  

No Ordinary Jacket by Sue-Ellen Pashley,

illustrated by Thea Baker

*Candlewick Press, 2020, 32 pages

Amelia wore she new jacket everywhere. It was warm and comforting - until the day it didn't fit any more and mom suggested she pass it down to sister Lilly. Amelia was sad to let her favorite jacket go, but reluctantly did it anyway. Soon, Lilly was wearing her new old jacket everywhere, too - until the day it didn't fit her any more either. So Lilly passed it down to her favorite doll, who wore it everywhere with Lilly - until Lilly went to school and stopped playing with dolls. By now, the jacket was pretty worn out and missing a button, forgotten about under Lilly's wardrobe. Until - the family cat found it and made a bed for her new kittens with it. Dirty, missing two buttons, with paint on the elbow and covered with cat hair, mom decides it is time to throw the jacket out. But Lilly remembered how special it was and didn't want to let it go. Clever mom knows just what to do and creatively gives the jacket new life and a new form to hand down to the new baby. The collage illustrations are done using fabric and paper adding texture and color to the otherwise muted background.  This is a story that my young readers particularly liked, especially the end, but the whole story is as warm and cozy as the jacket itself. 

Kaia and the Bees by Maribeth Boelts,

illustrated by Angela Dominguez

*Candlewick Press, 2020, 40 pages

Kaia, a biracial child, is quite brave with one exception - she is very afraid of bees and has been ever since she stepped on a bee and got stung. And now, there are bees living on the roof of Kaia's building. Her dad is a beekeeper. Bees, he explains, are dying and no one knows why, but he does know that the world needs bees to pollinate fruits and vegetables. But as often as he invites her to join him, Kaia simply will not go on the roof with him. Outside, she hides her fear of bees by telling her friends everything her dad has told her about them. But when a bee lands on her arm, her friends realize she's actually afraid of bees, calling her a liar. What's a kid to do? Face her fear, naturally. After zipping her into her beekeeper suit, Kaia and her dad head to the roof. But facing her fear isn't as easy as she had hoped, but Kaia has to decide what she is - a liar or a brave girl? Sweating and scared to death, Kaia takes the bee frame covered with a thousand bees from her dad. But when she gets stung, Kaia is done with bees - again. Well, except for the honey they make. When two bees make their way into the apartment with jars of honey, Kaia grabs the fly swatter and must once an face to bee fear. What will she do? The large illustrations, done with pencil and digitally colored, capture the many emotions Kaia goes through trying to come to terms with her fear of bees. A lot of young kids have that fear and this is a great book for helping them deal with it. 

Catch That Chicken! by Atinuke,

illustrated by Angela Brooksbank

*Candlewick Press, 2020 32 pages

Everyone, including brother Bilal, friend Fatima, sister Sadia, Nana Nadia, Daddy Danlami and Anuty Aisha, agrees that Lami is the fastest and best chicken catcher in their whole Nigerian village. Lami is so fast that the aunties in her village compound are always shouting Sannu! Sannu! Slow Down! as she chases chickens. But one day, Lami chases a chicken up the big baobab tree, and reaching for that runaway bird, she suddenly slips and falls. Oh dear, how can Lami chase chickens with a sprained ankle? After Nana Nadia tells her that quick thinking, not quick feet, is the way to catch chickens, can Lami come up with a new idea to do that? My young readers and I really loved this book, and not just because Lami is such an strong character, but it is a story is also a story about a close knit community, one that encourages and looks out for each other. The colorful mixed media illustrations tell Lami's story, but the milieu in which she lives was so detailed that it was fun for my young readers to explore and talk about what they revealed about the different aspect of life and culture in this village in Africa on almost every page. This is a book we've read over and over again and which is now part of our permanent class library. 

Salma the Syrian Chef by Danny Ramadan,

illustrated by Anna Bron

Annick Press, 2020, 40 pages

Salma and her mother are living in Vancouver, Canada, far from their home in Syria. Her father is still there and while she and her mother both miss him, her mother is particularly unhappy with this temporary separation. Salma tries everything she can think of to bring a smile to her mom's face, but to no avail. Finally, she decides to make some foul shami (a fava bean dish) after remembering the smile on her mother's face the last time she served it to Salma and her father. But how do you make a Syrian dish when you don't even know the English words for the ingredients? Even with the help of everyone at the Welcome Center where they live, Salma discovers that things can and do go wrong. After the most important ingredient, sumac, gets spilled all over the place, it is Granny Donya who saves the day for the disheartened Salma. Setting this in a center that welcomes refugees from all over gives this book its nice flavor of diversity, while at the same time showing readers the difficulties faced by new immigrants. From learning the language so they can navigate everyday life to dealing with homesickness and separation from loved ones, this book is all about empathy and kindness. The sweet illustrations are done in a palette of pastels, with a decidedly Middle Eastern geometric mosaic pattern framing them. This book is a real winner with my young readers and we have returned to it many, many times.

What favorite books did you share with your young readers in 2020?

*Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing their books free of charge in exchange for a review.

Four Picture Books About Grandparents

Grandparents have so much to give to and to share with their grandchildren. Here are four diverse books about that wonderful grandparent/grandchild bond. 

My Day with Gong Gong by Sennah Yee,

illustrated by Elaine Chen

Annick Press, 2020, 36 pages

May isn't terrible happy when her mom tells her she will be spending the day at Gong Gong's house. He doesn't speak English, and she doesn't speak Chinese. When Gong Gong falls asleep watching hockey, and May changes the channel, he turns off the the TV and they head out for a walk. Gong Gong greets all the neighbors, saying funny things in Chinese, but May doesn't understand what's making them laugh. The same thing happens inside the gift store, and at the dim sum restaurant - Gong Gong is so busy chatting he doesn't' seem to notice May is so hungry. When they stop at the grocery store to buy food, May hopes they will go home and eat soon, but first Gong Gong stops by the park to greet more friends and play some cards. Just what does he say that makes they laugh, too, just like the people in the gift store, the restaurant, and the grocery? But when a pigeon poops on the shoulder of her jacket, May's had enough and bursts into tears. Gong Gong gently cleans her up, then hands her the toy monkey she wanted at the gift store. Not only that, but he even has pork buns, her favorite, from dim sum restaurant. On their way home, they pass the same people from earlier in the day, only now, May gets a pleasant surprise when they all know just who she is. May's day turns out to be completely different from what she expected. Now, she and Gong Gong have a loving bond, and she even begins to learn a little Chinese starting with "Ngo oi nei" (I love you). I think Sennah Yee has perfectly captured May's frustration not understanding what is going on in the first part of this story and thinking her grandfather didn't much care about her, when it turns out to be just the opposite. As the two walk around Chinatown, the watercolor and pencil crayons illustrations show a friendly, welcoming place, much like Gong Gong himself, but it is not something May notices until things turn around. There are a few Chinese words used throughout and there is a glossary in the back that includes Chinese characters with pronunciation and translation.  

Bindu's Bindis by Supriya Kelkar,

illustrated by Parvati Pillai

Sterling Children's Books, March 16, 2021, 32 pages

Bindu loves to wear the different bindis her Nani sends to her from India. She wears them to temple, at home and on holidays. And she has bindis for whatever was going on in her life - even a squiggle bindi that says "I'm Unique!" But when Nani comes to visit, bearing new bindis, Bindu's excitement quickly changes from happiness to worry. At the airport, they meet protesters who want foreigners to go home. But Nani just tells Bindu to march by with pride. At home, Nani teaches Bindu some Indian dancing for the school talent show and the two have fun choosing the perfect bindi to wear for it. But at her school talent show, Bindu suddenly doesn't want to feel unique, to wear her bindi and do the dance Nani taught her when she sees people laughing at them. So Nani gets up on the stage all by herself and begins dancing alone. After watching her Nani dancing with a big smile and a sense of pride, Bindu decides to get on stage so they can dance together for everyone to see. This is a great story about learning to appreciate and be proud of who you are despite what others may think, and about the strong bond that exists between grandparents and grandchildren despite distance. There is spare text, and sometimes the illustrations tell more of the story than the words do, but if your young readers are like mine, they will pore over each illustration and fill in the missing words. That said, this story is as joyful as the beautiful, boldly colored cartoon-style illustrations. 

Grandpa Across the Ocean

written and illustrated by Hyewon Yum

Abrams BFYR, April 27, 2021, 40 pages

A young Korean American boy travels with his mother across the ocean to Korea goes to visit his grandfather, but he isn't very happy about it. Everything is unfamiliar - the smells, the food, even the way his grandpa bows to say hello. He can't understand anything grandpa says and grandpa doesn't hear well, plus he naps a lot in his chair. But when this ill-tempered boy breaks a potted plant playing ball in the house, instead of being mad, his grandpa proves to be quite caring and concerned, offering his contrite grandson some sweet peaches. Next thing you know, the two are playing together and have a great time laughing at the TV, going to the plants] store, enjoying some ice cream (both love chocolate). At the beach, Grandpa has more energy than is grandson, but both have a wonderful time together. Grandpa even begins to teach his grandson some Korean words. Naturally, when it comes time to return home, the boy is sad, but can't wait to return next summer. Grandpa Across the Ocean looks at the strength of family bond despite a language and distance barrier. The color pencil illustrations are bright and open, some are quite detailed, others are more like spot illustrations. I loved seeing the changes in the demeanor of both the grandfather and grandson as they get to know and understand each other better, and you can just see the feelings of mutual affection growing. There are a few Korean words in characters used throughout the book, but there is also a translation for each.   

Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker,

illustrated by April Harrison

Schwartz & Wade Books, 2020, 40 pages

When Zura's elementary school teacher reminds her students that Grandparents Day is coming up soon, all the kids in her class are excited except her. The other kids can't wait to show off what makes their grandparents special. Alejo thinks his abeulo is a great fisherman, Bisou thinks his mimi is "the best dentist in the world," but what makes Zura's Nana Akua so special? After all, Zura has seen kids and grownups stare at her grandmother because she looks different. Nana Akua, who was born in Ghana, has tribal symbols marked on her face that her parents had done when she was young according to old African tradition. Nana Akua's marks represent beauty and confidence. But what if Zura's classmates laugh or make fun of her grandmother, her favorite person in the world? But her wise grandmother has the perfect solution. On Grandparents Day, she and Zura arrive with the quilt Nana Akua had made for her and which is covered with Adinkra symbols. Nana Akua talks about the symbols and what they mean and why she has two symbols on her face. Then, she invites the class and the visiting grandparents to pick Adinkra symbols to have (temporarily) painted on their faces. You can find the symbols and their meanings on the endpapers. This is such a beautiful book about family, tradition, and cultural diversity. Nana Akua teaches Zura's class an important lesson in accepting differences in others, and provides her granddaughter with an example of how to handle the kind of situation she was afraid would happen with pride and a positive attitude. The mixed-media collage illustrations are perfect for this story, done in a palette of earth tones. 

Blog Tour, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Rosie Loves Jack by Mel Darbon

Welcome to the Rosie Loves Jack Blog Tour!

To celebrate the release of Rosie Loves Jack by Mel Darbon on March 1st, blogs across the web are featuring original content from Mel, as well as 10 chances to win the hardcover!

My YA Shelfie
by Mel Darbon

I always think that you can tell a lot about a person by the books on their shelves, so here is one of my YA bookshelves. I have very recently moved to a new house, so a lot of my books are still packed away, but these are some of my favourite books and authors. 

I think that from the selection of books lined up on this shelf you can see that I like books that deal with big issues and provide social commentary. A lot of the novels here are emotionally punchy and deeply moving, books that can make you feel uncomfortable, but make you think—and above all else encourage empathy. 

Brian Conaghan is particularly brilliant at producing such books and he always finds humour in the most inconceivable circumstances. The Weight of a Thousand Feathers is a fantastic exploration of the lengths we’ll go to for the people we love. The Bombs That Brought Us Together is a story about friendship that takes a topical and challenging look at communities in conflict, beautifully balancing entertainment with insightful commentary on issues in society.

A lot of the books here deal with child abuse, racism, immigration, arranged marriage, and bullying, and are quite often emotional roller coasters: Orangeboy by Patrice Lawrence, Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O’Neill, and The Middle of Nowhere by Geraldine McCaughrean. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is a brilliant and fantastically told exploration of race in America—and of growing up, too. It is one of the most important books teenagers can read. It's a profound, deeply compelling modern-day classic. 

My book shelf also shows that I love books that are inclusive and have characters who struggle to find a voice: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner, The Good Hawk by Joseph Elliot, and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. This isn’t surprising considering my aim with my own books is to never assume that someone who has difficulty communicating has nothing to say. 

Hopefully my YA shelfie can give some inspiration for more books to add to your TBR pile!

*****

Blog Tour Schedule:

3/1 - BookhoundsYA

3/2 - Book Briefs

3/3 - Frantic Mommy

3/4 - Randomly Reading

3/5 - A Dream Within a Dream

3/8 - I'm All Booked Up

3/9 - Multicultural Children's Book Day Blog

3/10 - Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

3/11 - Christy's Cozy Corners

3/12 - Feed Your Fiction Addiction

“The author stays out of Rosie's way, successfully depicting her protagonist as a person, not a puppet or a platform. The other characters populating the book are realistic, with a striking range of personality traits. The plot is so engrossing that the book is almost impossible to put down. Yes, Rosie loves Jack, and readers are going to love Rosie.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW 

Buy | Add on Goodreads

Excerpt | Discussion Guide

Fall in love with sixteen-year old Rosie, a girl with Down syndrome who’s fighting for little freedoms, tolerance, and love. A stunning, beautifully insightful debut YA novel from Mel Darbon.

“An enthralling story of resolve and grit... a moving and uplifting novel.” –The Guardian

"They can't send you away. What will we do? We need us. I stop your angry, Jack. And you make me strong. You make me Rosie."

Rosie Loves Jack by Mel Darbon

Peachtree Publishing, 2021, 352 pages

Rosie loves Jack. Jack loves Rosie. So when they're separated, Rosie will do anything to find the boy who makes the sun shine in her head. Even defy her parents’ orders and run away from home. Even struggle across London and travel to Brighton on her own, though the trains are cancelled and the snow is falling. Even though people might think a girl like Rosie, who has Down syndrome, could never survive on her own.

Introducing a strong and determined protagonist with Down syndrome, debut author Mel Darbon gives readers an underrepresented but much-needed point of view with a voice-driven, heartfelt story of finding your place an often big and intimidating world.

About the Author: Mel Darbon spent a large part of her childhood inventing stories to keep her autistic brother happy on car journeys. She won’t mention the time spent with him standing by level crossings waiting for the InterCity 125 to go past, as she wouldn’t want to be labelled a train spotter. Life took her in many different directions working as a theatre designer and freelance artist, as well as teaching young adults with learning disabilities and running creative workshops for teenage mums. She moved to Bath in 2014 with her husband and their dog, Alfie. Rosie Loves Jack is her debut book.

Follow Mel: Twitter | Instagram

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Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket by Sue Fliess, illustrated by Annabel Tempest

Sadie Sprocket Buids a Rocket written by Sue Fliess, 

illustrated by Annabel Tempest

Two Lions, 2021, 40 pages

Sadie wants nothing more than to travel through the galaxy way beyond earth. So naturally, she did some research, checking out every book in the library about space and discovered that no one has ever been to Mars. Now, Sadie wants to be the first person to land on the red planet.  

But Sadie isn't just a dreamer, she's a doer. So she gathers up a crew, and together they all build a rocket ship that will be sturdy, safe and fast. As her crew builds the ship, Sadie studies the celestial map and chooses a date for blast off. 

Finally, it was time to take off and travel to Mars. Everyone comes to wish Sadie and her crew a safe journey - her family, her friends, even a group of reporters are there. After all, Sadie is a girl who was about to make history. The trip is long so Sadie and her crew try to entertain themselves to pass the time, but with no gravity, everything floats around. Finally, they land safely on their destination and immediately begin to gather samples to take back to earth. After gathering 20 bags of samples from the surface of Mars, it is time to go - a sand storm is heading their way but it arrives before they are able to blast off for earth. 

Before they can even take off, the sand storm buries the landing gear and there is so much sand they have to wait until it clears a bit to see what needs to be done. But, even after it clears up enough, the rocket ship wouldn't start. Would they be stuck on Mars forever, or will Sadie be able to save the day?

I just realized that today is the first day of Women's History Month 2021 and a book about a girl who dreams of becoming a astronaut/scientist is the perfect picture book with which to welcome the month. Sadie is a wonderful fictional role model, a girl who uses her imagination creatively, she's also a dreamer, a doer and a problem solver...and, oh, yes, a trailblazer. The whole story is written is rhyming quatrains that never lose their musicality and the digital cartoon style illustrations are detailed and colorful, and make clear for the littlest readers that Sadie's trip to Mars is an imaginary one, but that doesn't diminish the STEM message. 

But don't think this is a story just for girls. When I shared it with my young readers, both boys and girls enjoyed it equally. They all especially liked Sadie's choice of crew, and it did generate a talk about space and possibilities. Who knows? Maybe this book has inspired a future scientist or two in my little reading group.

Meet the Author:

Sue Fliess is the author of more than thirty children's books, including Mrs. Claus Takes the Reins illustrated by Mark Chambers, Shoes for Me! A Dress for Me!, and Books for Me!, all illustrated by Mike Laughead; and Let's Build illustrated by Miki Sakamoto. She lives with her family and their two dogs in northern Virginia, where they admire the moon, stars, and sometimes even planets from their backyard. Learn more about Sue at www.suefliess.com, on Twitter: @SueFliess, on Facebook: Sue Fliess Author and Pinterest: Sue Fliess

Meet the Illustrator:

Annabel Tempest is the illustrator of a number of picture books and board books. She holds a degree in fashion and textiles and has worked as a freelance illustrator on everything from maps and packaging to greeting cards and children's books. She lives in the beautiful Somerset countryside in the UK with her husband and a houseful of muddy boys and dogs. Learn more about Annabel at www.annabeltempest.com and on Instagram: annabel.tempest

This book is recommended for readers and dreamers age 4+

This book was an eARC gratefully received from Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media