by Gattaldo ; illustrated by Gattaldo ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 14, 2021
Though lacking in detail, this timely portrayal of a Maltese journalist will certainly inspire.
An arresting example of the importance of journalism and protest.
This paean to Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, created by disciple Gattaldo, captures her bravery, resilience, and outspokenness while sketching out her life and showing that dedication to both her profession and ideals was intertwined with how she lived. Striking illustrations—the focal points are in color while detailed drawings and paintings in the background are primarily monochromatic—are tied closely to the text, vividly portraying her personality and beliefs, showing her unique role in a male-dominated occupation, and revealing her and most of her compatriots to be White. Most of the injustices she fought—censorship, racism, environmental degradation, and employment inequality—are not explicitly addressed in the text, though they appear in newspaper headlines within the illustrations; this seems a missed opportunity to explain her accomplishments in some detail. Readers unfamiliar with Malta may have additional questions, and her death by car bomb is mentioned only in the final biographical note, which simultaneously invites in a younger audience and may prevent an older one from understanding the risks she took to use her voice. While such omissions may render this selection unable to fully stand alone, it could easily work as a starting point for research or an introduction to journalism, protest, and/or social emotional skills.
Though lacking in detail, this timely portrayal of a Maltese journalist will certainly inspire. (author's note) (Picture book/biography. 5-10)Pub Date: Sept. 14, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1918-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
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by Chris Paul ; illustrated by Courtney Lovett ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 10, 2023
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
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More by Chris Paul
BOOK REVIEW
by Chris Paul & illustrated by Frank Morrison
by Bellen Woodard ; illustrated by Fanny Liem ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 26, 2022
An inspirational look at one girl’s quest to make sure that all skin tones are visible and available in the classroom.
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 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
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