Princesses rock!
Princess admirers should enjoy these brief, laudatory profiles of 15 modern-day royals from monarchies across the globe—among them one duchess and four young heirs apparent from Western Europe. The book spotlights their varied achievements and talents and the important work they do for their countries and people. For example, Princess Abze Djigma of Burkina Faso is a trained engineer who created a solar-powered light for her nation’s citizens who lacked access to electricity. Each profile is headed by an emphatic statement (“Real princesses are LAWYERS,” “Real Princesses are ENVIRONMENTALISTS”). The book expands readers’ worldviews: They’ll discover princesses live almost everywhere and are racially and ethnically diverse. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is included (as is Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales), though her profile notes that she and the Duke of Sussex “are no longer working members of the royal family,” it doesn’t mention that the couple now reside in the United States. Some readers may wish for a pronunciation guide and photographs of the princesses. The writing is straightforward and upbeat but generalized. Some facts aren’t explained, e.g., why Princess Keisha Omilana of Nigeria lives in London. Illustrations are bright, cheery, and colorful, depicting princesses posed against themed settings; background figures are racially diverse. Some princesses wear national dress. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
No glass slippers: just women with brains, skills, and dedication. Real princesses indeed. (author’s note, glossary, “who said it?” quiz, “dream big questions,” websites with further information) (Informational picture book. 6-10)Pub Date: April 11, 2023
ISBN: 9781250751430
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2023
Categories: CHILDREN'S BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR
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A Black girl’s simple observation propels her into activism.
Woodard, who launched the More Than Peach Project—which arranges for classrooms and children in need to receive kits that include art supplies and boxes of multicultural crayons (crayons in a variety of skin tones)—relates the incident that sparked her journey. As the book begins, she is dropped off at school and notices that her family’s skin tone differs from that of her classmates. While it is clear that she is one of a few children of color at school, that difference isn’t really felt until her friends start asking for the “skin-color” crayon when they mean peach. She’s bothered that no one else seems to notice that skin comes in many colors, so she devises a unique way of bringing everyone’s attention to that fact. With support from her family and her school, she encourages her fellow classmates to rethink their language and starts an initiative to ensure that everyone’s skin tone is represented in each crayon box. Appealing, realistic artwork depicts Woodard’s experiences, while endpapers feature More Than Peach crayon boxes and childlike illustrations of kids of different ethnicities doing various activities. The story is stirring and will motivate budding activists. (This book was reviewed digitally; the review has been updated for factual accuracy.)
An inspirational look at one girl’s quest to make sure that all skin tones are visible and available in the classroom. (note from Woodard, information on Woodard’s journey into activism, instructions on starting a drive) (Picture-book biography. 6-10)Pub Date: July 26, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-80927-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: April 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
Categories: CHILDREN'S BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S
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Before growing up to become a major figure in the civil rights movement, a boy finds a role model.
Buffing up a childhood tale told by her renowned father, Young Shelton describes how young Andrew saw scary men marching in his New Orleans neighborhood (“It sounded like they were yelling ‘Hi, Hitler!’ ”). In response to his questions, his father took him to see a newsreel of Jesse Owens (“a runner who looked like me”) triumphing in the 1936 Olympics. “Racism is a sickness,” his father tells him. “We’ve got to help folks like that.” How? “Well, you can start by just being the best person you can be,” his father replies. “It’s what you do that counts.” In James’ hazy chalk pastels, Andrew joins racially diverse playmates (including a White child with an Irish accent proudly displaying the nickel he got from his aunt as a bribe to stop playing with “those Colored boys”) in tag and other games, playing catch with his dad, sitting in the midst of a cheering crowd in the local theater’s segregated balcony, and finally visualizing himself pelting down a track alongside his new hero—“head up, back straight, eyes focused,” as a thematically repeated line has it, on the finish line. An afterword by Young Shelton explains that she retold this story, told to her many times growing up, drawing from conversations with Young and from her own research; family photos are also included. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A pivotal moment in a child’s life, at once stirring and authentically personal. (illustrator’s note) (Autobiographical picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-545-55465-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
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