WHAT DO BROTHAS DO ALL DAY?

Name: WHAT DO BROTHAS DO ALL DAY?
Author: Ajuan Mance
ISBN: 9781797215051

by Ajuan Mance ; illustrated by Ajuan Mance ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 14, 2023

A welcome recognition of Black men and the joyous ways they show up for their families, their communities, and each other.

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Black men living their everyday lives.

Drawing on language patterns and speech traditions commonly used within the African American community, Mance refers to Black men as brothas in this picture book that poses the question, “What do Brothas do all day?” The question is fully answered in spreads of bold illustrations that feature Black men of varying sizes, shapes, and skin tones. Simple text lets readers know that brothas spend their days engaged in a variety of activities: “Brothas drive. Brothas ride. Brothas wait for the bus.” Brothas “cook…and eat. Brothas float…and fly.” “Brothas march.” “Brothas listen.” And, of course, brothas love. Mace’s distinctive artistic style will be familiar to readers of her 1001 Black Men Sketchbook series. The illustrations, which show a deft use of collage, drawing, and other elements, capture the characters’ positive energy and camaraderie. The use of specific cultural details, such as brothas preparing black-eyed peas and visiting the barbershop, makes for a depiction that rings true. Mance’s linework brilliantly conveys dynamic physical movement as Black men take part in everything from jumping rope and skateboarding to dancing and playing basketball. Readers young and old will delight in exploring the ways that brothas live their wonderful lives.

A welcome recognition of Black men and the joyous ways they show up for their families, their communities, and each other. (Picture book. 3-8)

Pub Date: Nov. 14, 2023

ISBN: 9781797215051

Page Count: 44

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: June 21, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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A PERFECT PLACE TO PLAY
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Jim Valeri

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF FIRST GRADE
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Sarah Jennings

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FIVE LITTLE BUNNIES
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

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THE PUMPKIN THIEF

From the Leaf Thief series

by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nicola Slater ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 28, 2026

More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.

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Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.

Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.

More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)