Ingeniously profound in its acknowledgment that the U.S. truly is a land of differences.
The preamble to the U.S. Constitution undergoes a much-needed re-examination in Reeves and Tonatiuh’s patriotic proclamation redux.
“‘We the people’ is all the people.” Reeves broadens those initial, implicitly limited words crafted during the summer of 1787 to incorporate a more contemporary perspective. What follows is a lyrical catalogue of peoples from all walks of life, across race, religion, socioeconomic status, sexuality, occupation, and more, brought together for an inclusive coalition. People “who worship in / churches, / mosques, / and temples” stand alongside writers, readers, and thinkers. The contributions of teachers, firefighters, and health workers are celebrated along with the efforts of those who “build, clean, and repair.” Each line carves out another shade of meaning to the preamble, consciously widening the narrow representation of “we the people.” Reeves’ text provides readers with ample space and opportunity to leverage their imaginations as they interpret his brief descriptions. Tonatiuh’s sublime artwork favors sharp color contrasts and warm close-ups, including bodies of various skin colors, sizes, and abilities, set against stars and stripes backgrounds. One astonishing double-page spread even manages to convey the U.S.’s complicated history of migration in its portrayal of enslaved people, field workers, railroad workers, and travelers making their way across the open arms and braids of an Indigenous person.
Ingeniously profound in its acknowledgment that the U.S. truly is a land of differences. (author’s and illustrator’s notes) (Informational picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781419776496
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2026
A good-enough introduction to a contested festivity but one that’s not in step with the community it’s for.
An overview of the modern African-American holiday.
This book arrives at a time when black people in the United States have had intraracial—some serious, some snarky—conversations about Kwanzaa’s relevance nowadays, from its patchwork inspiration that flattens the cultural diversity of the African continent to a single festive story to, relatedly, the earnest blacker-than-thou pretentiousness surrounding it. Both the author and consultant Keith A. Mayes take great pains—and in painfully simplistic language—to provide a context that attempts to refute the internal arguments as much as it informs its intended audience. In fact, Mayes says in the endnotes that young people are Kwanzaa’s “largest audience and most important constituents” and further extends an invitation to all races and ages to join the winter celebration. However, his “young people represent the future” counterpoint—and the book itself—really responds to an echo of an argument, as black communities have moved the conversation out to listen to African communities who critique the holiday’s loose “African-ness” and deep American-ness and moved on to commemorate holidays that have a more historical base in black people’s experiences in the United States, such as Juneteenth. In this context, the explications of Kwanzaa’s principles and symbols and the smattering of accompanying activities feel out of touch.
A good-enough introduction to a contested festivity but one that’s not in step with the community it’s for. (resources, bibliography, glossary, afterword) (Nonfiction. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4263-2849-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: National Geographic Kids
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2017
Effectively argues that “People are more powerful together.”
Simple, direct statements are paired with watercolor illustrations to highlight some of the rallying causes for organized marches throughout the history of the United States.
The text and art begin with two marches that will reemerge as metaphor later in the book: a long line of ants marching to and from a piece of watermelon, and members of a blue-and-gold–clad marching band following their leader’s baton. As the band recedes on the verso, across the gutter an extremely diverse group of people similar to the crowds marching across the book’s cover advances toward readers on recto. Here the text repeats the book’s title. Next, negative space surrounds a small group of women and children—obviously from an earlier time—holding a protest sign. The text explains that sometimes people march “to resist injustice.” The facing page shows a contemporary family gazing with chagrin at a polluted beach; they will march because they “notice a need for change.” The text continues to offer simple explanations of why people march, eventually moving to other peaceful means of resistance, including signs, boycotts, strikes, sit-ins, and “taking a knee.” Hardship in the form of physical and psychic exhaustion is mentioned, but police and other legally sanctioned violence against protest is not—the general mood is uplifting encouragement to young, potential activists. This timely book combines rudimentary facts about peaceful resistance with art that depicts organized actions from the 19th century through today, and endnotes reveal more specifics about each illustration, including historic figures represented.
Effectively argues that “People are more powerful together.” (Informational picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-06-299118-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
