Hair Love

Written by Matthew A. Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Kokila, 2019

My name is Zuri, and I have hair that has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way.

Zuri’s hair lets her be whatever she wants to be, whether it’s a princess in braids or a superhero with puffs. One big day, she wakes up early, while her busy dad is still asleep, and tries to figure out how to do a perfect hairstyle. Her dad wakes up and wants to help her with her hair. The first two styles are not great. The puffs he makes look good, but the bands holding them come out. He tries picking it out into an afro, but Zuri is not impressed. She tells him she needs her hair to be special and he hugs her, telling her they’ll figure it out. Together, they watch a video and he creates funky puff buns that look awesome. She puts on her superhero cape and runs to meet her mom at the door. Mom complements her hair and Zuri proudly tells her that Daddy did it. Daddy says they learned from the best.

Author (and former NFL wide receiver) Matthew A. Cherry first told this story in the 2019 animated short film (with the same title), which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short. (It’s available on YouTube and you should definitely check it out if you’ve never seen it.) In the short film, Zuri’s mother is leaving the hospital after chemotherapy, which is different from the book, in which we see that she’s coming from somewhere (with a suitcase in hand and a ‘Welcome Home’ banner on the wall) but where she’s been is unclear. Either way, the focus is very much on the lovely relationship between Zuri and her father, who is clearly pushed out of his comfort zone in doing her hair. The story is so sweet and you come away from it just loving this family so much.

The facial expressions here are so perfect. Even the cat’s!

Illustrator Vashti Harrison gives these characters her own touch in her digital illustrations and, in keeping with her usual style, they are adorable and full of emotion. In addition to showing a dad lovingly learning a new skill, it’s a celebration of natural black hair and its amazing versatility. I like to think there have been many dads who have learned some ‘hair love’ skills of their own after their daughters have read this book.

And what did we learn?  What I take away from this book is that parents can show up for their kids in so many ways and in doing so, they create bonds that last a lifetime.

The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade

Written by Justin Roberts, illustrated by Christian Robinson

G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2014

Hardly anyone noticed young Sally McCabe.

Sally is the smallest girl in her class, but because she’s so small, most of her classmates tend to overlook her. But while they’re ignoring her, she’s paying extra attention to them. She notices little things like the number of keys on the janitor’s key ring, but she also notices when Tommy is tripped by a bully. She sees flowers and animals and she also sees Kevin get pushed off the slide. She even notices when a classmate is suddenly taken away by his father at a Parent-Teacher Day. She pays attention to the way that people react when bullies mistreat them and it reminds her of bulldozers running over flowers. So one day, she steps out of line at lunch, raises her hand and declares that she has seen enough of people treating each other badly. At first, no one knows how to react and then another student joins her and raises his hand. Soon everyone, even the Principal, joins in the protest. After that, the kids in her school are a little more patient and kind to each other and in the happy days that follow, they remember that this big change was brought about by a small girl.

Justin Roberts is a Grammy nominated singer/songwriter but this is his first picture book, based somewhat on his song, ‘Billy the Bully.’ The message in this book is admittedly a little heavy-handed, but it’s an important message, especially for kids who are small or shy and not used to getting a lot of attention. I really like that the book focused so much on Sally’s perceptive nature and the fact that she saw so many things going on all around her. There’s even a page where Sally sees a boy being bullied by his father and while not directly addressed here, it’s an important subtext for kids to notice and speak up if they see. And I like that all she does is stand up and speak her mind.

Bullies always have serious eyebrows.

Bookshelf favorite Christian Robinson once again proves his mastery of colored pencils, giving us illustrations of kids that manage to show a wide range of emotions in a few dots and lines. I don’t know how he does it, but the way he draws children is just so expressive and engaging. I love his bold colors and backgrounds that feel both professional and childlike at the same time, which is what I imagine makes them so appealing to kids. His art makes me want to draw and I think that’s probably what every illustrator would love to hear.

And what did we learn?  What I take away from this book is that if you see something, you should say something.

Neither

Written and Illustrated by Airlie Anderson

Little, Brown and Company, 2018

One upon a time, there were two kinds: this and that, these and those, one or the other.

All of the animals in this story are either yellow birds or blue bunnies. Then one day, an egg hatches and out pops a green animal with a beak, rabbit ears, a fuzzy tail and bird legs. When asked, he says he’s both, but the others say he is neither. The other animals won’t let him play with them, because he’s not close enough to either type to join them. They angrily send him away and he flies away from the land of yellow and blue and finds himself in a land of many colors. He meets an animal that is part cat and part butterfly, who tells him he will fit in here, in the Land of All. They invite him to play and he tells them he’s not the same color as them, but they like that about him. Suddenly, they are joined by a slightly different rabbit and bird from the land of This and That who are looking for a new home. They’re welcomed to the Land of All, where everyone fits in.

Author/illustrator Airlie Anderson gives us a simple story here, with a message that’s unassuming enough to be easily understood by the youngest of kids. There are several ways that the story can be interpreted, overlaying all the ways that humans can be different from each other. But to me, it reads as a lovely way to help readers understand gender identity, particularly those who identify as non-binary. My youngest is non-binary and is very much their own wonderful self. So to think of the world as a ‘land of all’ where they would be welcomed, appreciated and encouraged by everyone is a wonderful thought.

They clearly have some awesome board games there.

The gouache artwork uses color brilliantly to help bring home the book’s message. It starts out with just yellow and blue and then, in a wonderful double page spread, he flies over the landscape and we see him move away from the two colors to a lush world of many colors. The animals in this new world are all combinations of different creatures and multiple colors, but there’s very little green here so our main character brings in something they’re lacking. I love this, because it means they’d been waiting for someone just like him. In a world where everyone is welcome and everyone has the chance to bring their uniqueness to the table, it would make for the best and most interesting table.

And what did we learn?  What I take away from this book is that the best places to be are places that respect and encourage diversity.

V is for Voting

Written by Kate Farrell, illustrated by Caitlin Kuhwald

Henry Holt and Company, 2020

A is for active participation.

Moving through the alphabet, in rhyming couplets, the poem talks about reasons for voting, including citizens rights and diversity. With everyone engaged in the process and a free press reporting facts, we choose those who lead us and protect our country. Together, we work to create the change we want and trust in our judges to be fair. We start locally, casting votes that matter and remembering the leaders that came before us. We ask questions to stay informed and expect our leaders to represent all of us. We raise our voices and if we don’t win, we keep working for change. We all have to take part and show up with our votes and our voices.

I checked this out of the library at the same time as Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights, which I read first. After seeing it was an alphabet book, I thought I might not review this one, since I didn’t need two alphabet books, but then I read it. Yep, I needed two alphabet books. First time picture book author Kate Farrell’s rhymes are delightful to read aloud but packed with depth and meaning, in letters like H, which stands for “homelands that we’ve occupied.” Two pages of extras are included in the back of the book, including a timeline of voting rights and a directory of some of the people who are depicted in the book’s illustrations, with an encouragement to learn more about them. (I did, as there were some I didn’t know!)

I love that so many picture books point to our country’s diversity as what makes us strong AND beautiful.

This book is also the first picture book of illustrator Caitlin Kuhwald, who uses digital illustration to show our unstoppable main character being an active part of her community, marching for causes and always learning more about those who came before her. In one of my favorite images, we see her planting flowers in a garden with others and then later, we see that everyone else’s garden has died and she is still working in hers, with a determined look on her face. This appears on the W page, where “W is for working for change, win or lose.” It is sometimes hard to keep going when things go badly, but that’s when it’s most important. This is an outstanding book to get your kids fired up to vote and become an informed and dedicated citizen. I’m excited to see what other books these two have in store.

And what did we learn?  What I take away from this book is that being a citizen comes with responsibilities as well as privileges and we need to live up to our part.

Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights

Written by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Jared Andrew Schorr

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018

Assemble. Take action. Create allies.

We see people marching in protest, carrying signs and speaking up. We also see people using signs to boycott and making buttons, banners and bumper stickers to share their thoughts. Readers are told that they can demonstrate and never give up. Teachers educate and encourage. People give their time and money and they volunteer to help others. Some join others who are standing up. Some of the things you can do include listening, writing letters, helping to pass laws and motivate others. Organize in groups and keep going. Pray, if you are a praying person. Question things, read to learn more and remember those who came before you. You can stand up to protest or sit down to protest. Unite with others. Vote and volunteer to help. Explain the change you want to see and be that change to help make it happen.

Author Rob Sanders grabbed my attention on the acknowledgements page by dedicating the book to ‘those who lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and those who found their voices.’ It doesn’t really show in my summary above, but this is actually an alphabet book, with every page dedicated to a different letter of the alphabet and words that illustrate a different facet of peaceful protest. Mr. Sanders is also a teacher and his words here do a marvelous job of focusing on ways that you can take action, with your friends and family, to make a difference. Included in the back of the book is an overview of peaceful protests over the last century and a glossary of some of the more complex words and phrases, such as ‘mediate’ and ‘boycott.’

She’s actually looking at the next page of the book, which shows an image of a lunch counter sit-in protest.

The cut paper collage artwork, from illustrator Jared Andrew Schorr, walks a fine balance of whimsical and somber, with lots of heart and hope. I wanted to linger over many of these pages, just to take in the details. As you would expect, there is a lot of diversity in the people depicted here and so many different emotions. There’s a double page spread for ‘unite’ that is just 20 raised hands displaying peace signs and there is such variety in the skin tone and fingernails. The whole book feels so inclusive and welcoming, clearly inviting the reader to find some way to get involved and take action themselves. It feels like it presents the sense of community as it is meant to be. Another high recommendation.

And what did we learn?  What I take away from this book is that there are so many things you can do to help bring about the change you want to see in the world. Everyone can find something that fits their talents and time.

Can I Touch Your Hair? (Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship)

Written by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, illustrated by Sean Qualls and Selina Alko

Carolrhoda Books, 2018

When our teacher says,

‘Pick a partner,’

my body freezes

like a ship in ice.

Charles (a black boy) and Irene (a white girl) are partnered up for their class’s poetry writing project and initially, they are not happy about that. The book takes us through their poems, each showing us their points of view on different topics. In some areas, their feelings are similar, such as their shared longing for fancier shoes than their parents usually buy. In other areas, though, they are very different, such as their experiences and attitudes toward church. They each long to be accepted by people of the other race, but their poems show that they are often turned away. Eventually the two become friends while working on their project and it leads to better understanding of race, each other and of themselves. Separately, they learn about recent events of racial discrimination and police brutality and then together, they get to meet an author they both admire. Their friendship blooms as they see each other as more than just black and white.

Co-authors Irene Latham and Charles Waters share a note in the back of this book that explains how they connected as fellow poets of different races and how they drew on their own different backgrounds and histories to forge a friendship that mirrors the one that happens in the book. The way the poems move between the different narrators is very compelling and draws you in almost immediately. Before I was halfway through, I was thinking back to moments during my own childhood and experiences that were touched by racial differences. I imagine many adults will feel the same way reading it with their children and believe the poems could be a great way to have conversations about the ways that acceptance of diversity has (and hasn’t) changed since your own childhood.

Past racial differences and straight on to friendship.

The illustrations, from married artists Sean Qualls and Selina Alko (who are also a biracial couple) show a real connection to their subject matter. They also included a note in the back of the book, explaining that they were also drawn back to their separate and different childhood experiences. The illustrations use a mixture of acrylic paint, colored pencil and collage, which mirrors the mixing of their cultures and histories. I love the use of collage in meaningful moments, such as the sky and landscape full of news clippings when Irene’s father is talking to her about what happened in Ferguson, Missouri. It’s quietly powerful and recommended for those wanting to open a real conversation with their kids.

And what did we learn?  What I take away from this book is that friendships are born from learning and respecting each other’s histories, differences and similarities.

The Boston Tea Party

Written by Russell Freedman, illustrated by Peter Malone

Holiday House, 2012

Everyone knew there was going to be trouble when the merchant ship Dartmouth, carrying 114 chests of fine blended tea, sailed into Boston Harbor on November 28, 1773.

The people of Boston, objecting to British taxation, tried to refuse the delivery of tea that would require a large import tax. Governor Hutchison, however, was insistent that the tea be brought ashore and the taxes paid. As the end of the ship’s grace period approached, a protest meeting was held in Old South Church and a final request was sent to the governor to allow the ship to sail back to England with the tea, but again he refused. The Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians (so as to hide their identities) and marched to the harbor, where they boarded the ship and dumped the tea overboard, ensuring no harm was done to the property (other than the tea) or people onboard. The protestors returned home, satisfied that their mission had been accomplished.

Author Russell Freedman has written a lot of American history stories for children and has won several medals and awards, including a National Humanities Medal for his books. Reading this, it’s pretty easy to see why. In addition to telling the story, Mr. Freedman gives us a lot of extra information to explore. There’s a map of Boston from 1775, a bibliography, a timeline of events, an article on the importance of tea, source notes and even an index so you can look for specific content. All of this may give you the impression that the book would be over-informative or dry, but it’s not. This is a great example of a time when Americans rebelled against oppression and created real and lasting change.

This had to have been exhausting work.

Peter Malone’s watercolor artwork captures the colors, fashions, architecture and emotions of this time in our history and lets us see it unfold from their perspective. One of my favorite pictures and anecdotes from the book is the image of Thomas Melville, whose family preserved the tea leaves that fell out of his boots when he returned home and made it a family heirloom. In many of the pictures, it appears that at least one person is looking towards the reader, reminding us of our connection through the centuries and asking us what we have done with the freedoms that they worked for. If your child is interested at all in American History, look for this book and others by the same author.

And what did we learn?  What I take away from this book is that when peaceful talks fail, strong actions are often required to bring about change.

Let the Children March

Written by Monica Clark-Robinson, illustrated by Frank Morrison

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018

1963

Birmingham, Alabama

I couldn’t play on the same playground as the white kids.

The story’s narrator is a young black girl, who feels the pain of segregation and being treated differently from the white kids in her school. One night she goes to church with her family and listens to Dr. Martin Luther King talk about his plan for a peaceful march for freedom. The adults fear that the repercussions for them will mean the loss of jobs or the means to support their families. But the children have less to lose and, though it was frightening, it was agreed to let the children march. On May second, the children gathered at the church and started walking, afraid of what may happen, but determined to march on. The police sprayed them with water, sent dogs after them and even took some of them to jail. On the third day, our narrator is taken to jail and she joins the others singing, “We Shall Overcome!” More children walk and more are arrested until the jails are full. Our narrator is happy to be reunited with her parents and even happier on May 10, when she learns that Dr. King had reached an agreement for desegregation. And then she is free to play on any playground, having led the way.

This is the first picture book from author Monica Clark-Robinson and it’s a powerful debut. I have previously reviewed The Youngest Marcher, which is another story of the Birmingham Children’s Crusade and I heartily recommend them both. Ms. Clark-Robinson shows these children as scared and tired and separated from their parents, but bravely never giving up the fight and holding to their faith and courage. When the narrator is reunited with her family, she describes her exhaustion and pain, but focuses on the sense of pride she has in making a difference. It’s amazing and inspiring.

Imagine having to walk past all those angry hate-filled people.

Illustrator Frank Morrison’s oil paintings pull you into all the emotion of the story and are full of realism. There are so many facial expressions on display here and they show the best and worst of us as a country. The pictures that stay with me most show some of the footage that America saw on television, of police spraying children with water as they huddle against a wall and climbing into a van to be taken away to jail. These images compelled families all over the country to take action. In the final picture of black and white children playing together on a playground, the faces are less detailed, which I took as a statement that their differences were no longer as important. The Children’s Crusade is an amazing story and this book is a wonderful way to share it with your kids.

And what did we learn?  What I take away from this book is that children may be young, but they still have the ability to change the world.

Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down

Written by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Little, Brown and Company, 2010

We must…meet hate with love.

Four friends (David, Joseph, Franklin and Ezell) went to a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, NC in 1960, hungry and hopeful. They each only wanted a doughnut and coffee and though they waited patiently, they were completely ignored. This lunch counter was Whites Only and the waitress refused to serve them. But the four young men wanted integration and justice even more than they wanted those doughnuts and coffee and they refused to leave. A police officer came to remove them, but since they weren’t breaking the law, there was nothing he could do. The owner of Woolworth’s closed the business for the day and everyone left. The next day, even more students showed up to sit at the lunch counter. Again, the waitress refused to serve them and the students stayed quietly at the counter, reading and doing homework. The protest spread to other cities in other states and the students sat patiently at Whites Only lunch counters, where patrons objected by pouring hot coffee on them, squirting ketchup on their heads and yelling at them. The students sat peacefully and quietly, which was very difficult. White students joined the protests and in addition to lunch counters, they spread their protest to segregated libraries, buses, parks and pools.

Although the students had been entirely peaceful, people feared violence and eventually the police arrested them for loafing and sent them to jail. People began to boycott segregated business, forcing them to integrate in order to stay open. Ella Baker, an activist at Shaw University, organized the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee to help those who had demonstrated. In 1963, President Kennedy urged fairness and helped form the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The students went back to Woolworths and enjoyed doughnuts and coffee, in a newly integrated world.

There should be room for everyone at the lunch counter.

Author Andrea Davis Pinkney and her husband, illustrator Brian Pinkney (son of bookshelf favorite Jerry Pinkney), do an amazing job of telling this story. The book’s text is full of food imagery and metaphors, describing this peaceful protest as a key ingredient for the recipe of integration. There are even sections that almost feel like beat poetry and it is somehow uplifting, even though the story and the way these students were treated is awful to read. A civil rights timeline is included in the back of the book along with additional reading suggestions.

The illustrations, in watercolor and india ink, feature rough lines that create a sense of urgency, even in the images of the students quietly sitting in place. Towards the end of the book, one page folds out to encapsulate the protests and the full impact of the story, prefaced with a full ‘recipe’ for integration, pointing out that steps are easy to follow. I would like to believe that someday, this recipe will be embraced by all Americans as a treasured part of what truly makes our country great. I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to share a good story of a successful protest that created real positive change. It’s really wonderful.

And what did we learn?  What I take away from this book is that working together to overcome the status quo takes guts and determination and we owe a lot to those who did and still do.

Just Ask!

Written by Sonia Sotomayor, Illustrated by Rafael López

Philomel Books, 2019

Hi, I’m Sonia. My friends and I are planting a garden.

Sonia talks about their garden and the fact that there are many kinds of plants, all with different needs, colors, shapes and purposes. She points out that kids are also different in many ways and it’s okay to ask about the ways other kids are different because it helps to understand. She starts by explaining that she is a diabetic and has to measure her blood sugar and inject insulin every day to stay healthy. Rafael says that he has asthma and has to use an inhaler to help him breathe. Anthony uses a wheelchair to help him get around and Madison and Arturo use a cane and a seeing eye dog, because they are both blind. Vijay is deaf and communicates through sign language and Bianca struggles to read because of her dyslexia. Jordan and Tiana both have autism, but experience it very differently. Anh is quiet, because her stutter makes her self-conscious about speaking. Julia’s Tourette’s Syndrome makes her act strangely sometimes and she has to explain that it’s just what her body does. Manuel has ADHD and appreciates when his teachers and friends help him stay on track. Nolan has a nut allergy and is thankful for food labels that keep him from eating things he shouldn’t. Grace has Down syndrome and it takes her longer to learn new things. Sonia ends the book by saying that all of their differences make the world’s garden richer and more interesting.

Sonia Sotomayor was appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States by Barack Obama in 2009. In a note to readers at the beginning of the book, she shares how she was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of seven and that the many different such challenges that children deal with often make them stronger. She remembers feeling that other children were curious about her diabetes, but afraid to ask her any questions, which lead her to believe that she was somehow doing something wrong. She wrote this book to help shine some light on these types of challenges to increase understanding and remove some of the taboos around them. I love that as each child describes their situation, they ask a related question that ties them to the next child, showing a sense of solidarity. Each child focuses more on the ways they meet their challenges, which is so positive and supportive. She also notes that everyone has different levels of comfort with discussing their challenges, which is a good thing to keep in mind.

Rafael’s inhaler lets him stay outside longer so he can paint more beautiful rocks.

Illustrator Rafael López uses pencil, watercolor and acrylic on paper to give us joyful representations of these children, all of whom are at work (or play) in Sonia’s garden. As we continue to meet new children, we also see the children we’ve already met in the background, which felt to me like a nice reminder that although each child gets a moment when they are the central focus, they continue to be important even when the focus turns to someone else. I really appreciated the gentle and positive approach that this book took to helping children understand differences in ability and you know that I will always be in favor of any book that promotes more communication and better understanding. I would have loved to read this with my children when they were young.

And what did we learn? What I take away from this book is that everyone has challenges to overcome and when we better understand what they are, we also better understand how we can help and appreciate them.