Picture Book Reviews
10 November 2024 01:23 pm
What stories are in a name?
Young Hispanic Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela doesn't feel like she fits into her long name and turns to her dad for answers about it. "Let me tell you the story of your name. Then you decide if it fits," says Alma's father, and so begins a journey through their family history. Alma shares each part of her name with an ancestor with a story for Dad to tell. Soft pencil illustrations in limited and muted colors make the present cozy and bring a sense of warm nostalgia to the past. The limited use of color emphasizes characters and objects; red and pink color the present and blue shading colors the past. Each story is followed by a two-page spread where Alma makes connections between herself and her ancestor. Objects from the image of the ancestor reappear in Alma's present in still colored blue further building the connections.
In the beginning the ancestors are alone on a page in photo frames. As Alma's connection with them grows, the frames are left behind, and Alma peeks inside; what was once two separate pages merges into a single spread, blending past and present. Spanish words within the illustrations and pieces of Hispanic cultural imagery (a calavera, figures in traditional Peruvian attire, the sagrado corazón, etc.) suggest cultural identity for the family. A cozy and sweet look at inter-generational connections and the way that names can carry cultural heritage and family histories into the present and future, which may prompt a sharing of personal family history between the child reader and their adult. Ages 4-8.
Llewellyn is a little rabbit with big feelings and he does not like them one bit. Fear — an inky amorphous, wide-eyed blog looms large, making him uncomfortable. Overwhelmed, Llewellyn captures his fear in a jar and hides it in a closet at the bottom of a narrow, winding staircase, and with the closing of the door, all seems well; Llewellyn no longer feels afraid. After that, each time he’s faced with another big feeling he bottles it up, until he’s nearly empty. Then, a final feeling emerges; as before, he captures it and takes it to the closet, but this time, it won’t fit and the door won’t close despite his best efforts. After a final determined shove, the dam breaks, the jars crack and the page is awash with a rainbow of colors, flattening Llewellyn.
Relief follows his meltdown, and he discovers that experiencing his emotions is ultimately unavoidable and that feeling them, sharing them, giving them gratitude, and letting them go is richer than hiding them away. Llewellyn’s discovery is treated with a gentleness and gravitas, just as the situations that precipitated his emotions were. A mixture of page layouts (spreads, full pages, and simple panel layouts) effectively communicate the passage of time and set a good pace and rhythm to the reading of the text. Brightly colored mixed media illustrations with loose pencil lines and flowing water colors contrasted against crisp lines and shapes from ink and digital media additions are a visual standout. An excellent addition to any SEL collection, sure to prompt discussions about feelings whether shared in groups or one on one. Stunning visuals paired with a thoughtful narrative that affirms and validates big feelings. Ages 4-8.
King Neil, Aliya. Keep Your Head Up. Illus. Charly Palmer. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021. 32 pages. Hardcover $17.99, ISBN 978-1-5344-8040-7
It’s okay to not be okay.
A black, neurodivergent coded boy named D has a bad start to his day. He tries to stay positive but everything seems to go wrong, one thing after another. Familiar situations from a forgotten gym uniform, to getting passed over for a school duty he likes, to getting chastised in front of his class for accidentally blurting out answers without raising his hand build his frustration. Alone each thing might not be too bad, but together, in a single string they are. Soon enough, D is overwhelmed with his frustration, embarrassment, and insecurities, leading to a meltdown that sees him removed from class. Fortunately for D, he’s got supportive adults in his corner; his principal calms him down, and though his parents bring a few more disappointments when they come to take him out of school, they non-judgmentally acknowledge his feelings and give him space. The entire cast of characters are black.
Acrylic on board illustrations with rich colors and loose brush strokes accompany the text. A cloud is painted above D’s head in every scene that visualizes his mood through its changing color — darker as frustration builds and lighter when it lessens. The physical sensations, facial expressions, and body language associated with D’s moods are thoroughly described, and meltdown is well-defined. D’s frustration and eventual meltdown treated with patience and gentleness by the narrative, and though he’s repeatedly encouraged to stay positive it doesn’t feel patronizing or invalidating (“I just have to try”). An excellent look at emotional regulation for any SEL collection, with attractive illustrations. Overall, a gentle and understanding look at bad days and difficult feelings. Ages 5+
A boy and his grandfather struggle to connect or communicate with one another, but find a common language in art. The boy is dropped off for a visit with his grandfather, which starts out awkward and quiet because they don’t speak the same language. They eat different dinners together and watch TV, and silence looms large, though they each attempt to have conversation, the boy in English and the grandfather in Thai. Despite the disconnect, the love is there, and when the boy picks up a marker and begins to draw, a common ground is found as the grandfather joins him with a brush full of black ink. Together they create a bright, magical and imaginative world of drawings, letting them speak beyond words to make connections.
Sparse but impactful text lets the dazzling illustrations speak and tell the story. In the world outside their drawings, graphic novel paneling tells the story and the white spaces between the panels emphasize the divide between boy and grandfather. When the two connect, paneling is replaced by stunning full-page detailed spreads that reward repeated viewings. The grandson’s bright colors and simple cartoon artwork contrast with the grandfather’s detailed black and white line art full of traditional Thai art imagery and as their connection deepens, the two blend and grandson and grandfather find themselves comfortable without words. A sweet, inter-generational story where the magic and power of art bridges cultural and linguistic divides. Ages 4+
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