bookshelf

OUR POLICE

Name: OUR POLICE
Author: Jack E. Levin
ISBN: 978-1-5344-2950-5

by Jack E. Levin ; illustrated by Jack E. Levin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 30, 2018

Preaches to the choir.

bookshelf

A picture-book introduction to the police.

A preface by the author/illustrator’s son Mark R. Levin, a lawyer and Fox News personality, tells readers, “My father…understands that in all walks of life, and in every profession, man’s imperfections present themselves.” But, distressed by “news reports painting police officers…in an extremely negative light,” he was stirred to create this book so that young readers might “learn to respect law and order.” After that beginning, straightforward text combines with simple, childlike illustrations to introduce various types of police officers and what they do, including traffic police, dog handlers, and state troopers. Unsurprisingly, this is an unnuanced, positive portrayal. “When a fierce hurricane hits, the police remain steadfast. Amid the rising floodwaters, they search for missing people and stranded pets.” The book does not fall into the common trap of adducing the criminality of those arrested but not yet tried—indeed, there’s just one depiction of an arrest, in the beam of light cast by a police helicopter as the text reads that its job is to “make sure all is safe in the surrounding neighborhood.” It is deeply unfortunate, however, in a book that is attempting to rehabilitate the police with young audiences, that the vast preponderance of officers depicted appear to be white (as are those they interact with). Nowhere in the book’s determined cheerleading is there room to respect the experiences of those who have lost family members and friends to the police and who themselves feel targeted.

Preaches to the choir. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 30, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-5344-2950-5

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Aladdin

Review Posted Online: Sept. 1, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

bookshelf

LATE FOR SCHOOL

by Steve Martin & illustrated by C.F. Payne ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 8, 2010

bookshelf

“Woke up this morning / Clock said I was late for school / Teacher told me that’s not cool / Gotta put my shirt and pants on / Flew down the front stair / Wet my fingers and slicked my hair / Elbowed grandma passing by / Her face went into a pie.” This little guy with great big ears doesn’t want to disappoint Mom and Dad or end up in the grammar slammer, so he puts on some wild speed. He log rolls across a neighbor’s pool and uses the diving board to grab a kite tail. He floats to the football field and makes a mad dash through the school building…you know where this is heading: It’s Saturday! Rats! Thank goodness he gets home in time to go fishing with Dad. Martin turns one of the songs from his 2009 Grammy-winning bluegrass recording into what functions best as a read-along (or sing-along) with the enclosed CD; only he can make his wild word rhythms shine. Payne’s painted illustrations are a good-enough match, but they are hardly as frenetic as the song. Definitely worth a place in your picture-book collection nevertheless. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2010

ISBN: 978-0-446-55702-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Review Posted Online: July 15, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2010

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
THE ALPHABET FROM A TO Y WITH BONUS LETTER Z!
by Steve Martin & illustrated by Roz Chast

bookshelf

CLIMBING LINCOLN'S STEPS

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN JOURNEY

by Suzanne Slade & illustrated by Colin Bootman ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2010

bookshelf

When work was begun on the Lincoln Memorial in 1914, no one could have imagined the history that would later unfold at the site. Slade uses the Memorial to create a brief series of snapshots of African-American history, beginning with the background that connects Abraham Lincoln to African-Americans. She moves on to Marian Anderson's legendary performance and Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington and culminates with the inauguration of Barack Obama. Each moment is narrated in the present tense, providing sensory details to evoke atmosphere and just enough background to create meaning for the audience. Bootman’s illustrations clearly portray the emotions—fear, determination, joy—of the people present at each moment. The final two-page spread of the First Family viewing the Memorial is especially moving. Readers will find in this introduction a good overview and a solid base on which to continue building their knowledge of not only African-American history but the history of the United States. Thumbnail biographies of other changemakers and a timeline follow the text. (Informational picture book. 5-8)