Barnwell’s resplendent, inspiring sentiments are a perfect read-aloud or sing-along, and readers will instantly warm to the joyous protagonist, taught by her Nana to celebrate life. “There were no mirrors in my Nana’s house/no mirrors in my Nana’s house/So the beauty that I saw in everything/the beauty in everything/was in her eyes/like the rising of the sun.” And so Nana’s house is magical; because it has no mirrors, there are no judgments about skin color, beauty, or poverty, and “I only knew love and I never knew hate.” The artwork is made of bright, bold colors and expressive figures; the grandmother soars above the child wearing crooked pants, a mountain of strength and love. Every scene embraces the exultations of the text; every page is an affectionate study in color, and an enhancement of Barnwell’s words. (CD, not heard) (Picture book. 4-7)
