An often lilting celebration of the poet’s early anchors and incipient artistic voyaging.
A look at poet Edna St. Vincent Millay’s close childhood bonds with younger sisters Norma and Kathleen.
Their unusually parent-free existence garners economical explanations. Edna, called Vincent, “watched her father cross the cranberry bog to the railway station. Cora told Henry to go & never come back.” The four move to Camden, Maine, where life in “the smallest house on the loneliest road in the poorest part of town” is heightened by mother Cora’s long absences as a traveling nurse. Their mother’s towering influence is nonetheless intimated: “She was ambitious & unordinary & wanted the same for her daughters. What other mother had better books than the library? What other mother would steal the whole show?” Though bound by regimented chores, the sisters revel in meadow and sea. Therewith, the authors’ imagery sings: “Luckily the ocean was the biggest thing in the world. Wilder even than the woods! Everyday swung open to a swoony new sea.” Farkas and Vizzo convey Vincent’s early, driving impetus to write, her moodiness, and the chasm Cora’s absence creates. Dwyer mixes styles to represent the sisters’ unique symbiosis, which holds both trauma and freedom. Realistically rendered figures, calico-clad, long-haired, and White-presenting, cavort among stylized, sun-washed meadow flowers. For joyless episodes—Henry’s leaving; illness—the artist uses a darker palette and expressionistic elements. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An often lilting celebration of the poet’s early anchors and incipient artistic voyaging. (three poems by Millay, biographical note, authors’ note, photos) (Informational picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 9781951836511
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Cameron Kids
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Blandly inspirational fare made to evoke equally shrink-wrapped responses.
An NBA star pays tribute to the influence of his grandfather.
In the same vein as his Long Shot (2009), illustrated by Frank Morrison, this latest from Paul prioritizes values and character: “My granddad Papa Chilly had dreams that came true,” he writes, “so maybe if I listen and watch him, / mine will too.” So it is that the wide-eyed Black child in the simply drawn illustrations rises early to get to the playground hoops before anyone else, watches his elder working hard and respecting others, hears him cheering along with the rest of the family from the stands during games, and recalls in a prose afterword that his grandfather wasn’t one to lecture but taught by example. Paul mentions in both the text and the backmatter that Papa Chilly was the first African American to own a service station in North Carolina (his presumed dream) but not that he was killed in a robbery, which has the effect of keeping the overall tone positive and the instructional content one-dimensional. Figures in the pictures are mostly dark-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Blandly inspirational fare made to evoke equally shrink-wrapped responses. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-81003-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A brief but sweet snapshot of an inspiring girl who finds hope in song.
Through the power of music, Lucimarian Tolliver is reminded of what’s important.
Lucy is one of the only children of African descent on her block—called Lucy Street—in 1930s Akron, Ohio, but all her neighbors share one commonality: poverty. Lucy’s carefree spirit is dampened when her family’s furniture is repossessed one day. She visits her grandfather, who comforts her by singing the folk standard “This Little Light of Mine.” Grandpa tells Lucy that she’s destined for greatness and that she should never stop singing, even through life’s toughest moments. Back at home, Lucy’s father scolds her for singing at the dinner table, so she quickly finishes eating and wanders outside and sings into the night. Her voice reaches her family and neighbors, who are all touched by her song. Digital illustrations evoke the time period in muted tones, featuring endearing characters with simple yet expressive features. The visual subject matter is repetitive from page to page, as are the incorporated lyrics of “This Little Light of Mine.” Based on Lucimarian Tolliver’s experiences growing up during the Depression, the text contains an epilogue but lacks backmatter detailing historical context or more information about Lucy’s life. Though the themes of optimism and the importance of family, faith, and music shine through the text, readers may be left with more questions than answers.
A brief but sweet snapshot of an inspiring girl who finds hope in song. (Picture-book biography. 5-7)Pub Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN: 9780063222540
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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