An excellent, informative tale of an African queen for readers of all ages.
A picture book tells the story of Queen Idia of the African kingdom of Benin.
A girl named Idia dreams of a battle and “a woman who helped to heal those who were hurt by mixing herbs and potions.” The next day, Idia attends a festival, where she performs a traditional dance for the Oba (king) with other villagers. But she remains distracted by her dream. As she gets older, Idia learns about magic and medicine from her mother. Now an adult, Idia is a skilled dancer and is invited to perform for the new Oba. He is impressed with Idia and wants to marry her. She asks her parents for guidance. They seek a native doctor who “made two deep marks in Idia’s forehead, to which he applied special medicines.” Idia dreams of the battle again and realizes the woman is actually her. She sees her future son, a king. Idia decides to marry the Oba. The story concludes: “She became a queen, a warrior, the first woman to fight for the kingdom, and the first Iyoba (Queen Mother) of Benin.” Aire’s intriguing tale is beautifully written. The story of Idia’s journey will captivate readers, offering a vibrant plot and a special protagonist. Shabelnyk’s depictions accentuate the text, delivering lovely portrayals of the narrative’s events and detailed scenery. The book includes useful backmatter: a short history of the Benin Empire and biographical information about Queen Idia.
An excellent, informative tale of an African queen for readers of all ages. (maps)Pub Date: Aug. 11, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-77711-790-0
Page Count: 21
Publisher: Our Ancestories
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Trisha is ready to start at a new school, where no one will know she has dyslexia. At first, she is heartbroken to be in Miss Peterson’s special-ed class, aka, “the junkyard.” But Miss Peterson treats the children as anything but junk, showing them that everyone has a unique talent. Polacco’s trademark style is fully present here; her sensitively drawn alter ego shines with depth of feeling. When bullying occurs, Miss Peterson proves her students are worthwhile by planning a junkyard field trip, where they find valuable objects to be used in exciting ways. Trisha’s group repairs a plane, and the class buys an engine for it. Then a beloved class member dies, and the children must find a way to honor him. While the plot meanders somewhat, the characters are appealing, believable and provide a fine portrayal of a truly special class. Children will be drawn in by the story’s warmth and gentle humor and will leave with a spark of inspiration, an appreciation of individual differences and a firm anti-bullying message, all underscored by the author’s note that concludes the book. (Picture book. 7-10)
Pub Date: July 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-399-25078-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2010
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