A satisfying story in which two children discover the love of an ancestor.
A treasure map written on buckskin leads siblings to a discovery worth more than gold.
Old tropes and new fun greet young readers in a mystery about two kids traveling the powwow highway with their grandparents. Jamie and Marie Longbow are twins. Marie helps Grama make and sell beadwork while Jamie gives Grampa a hand setting up their canvas tent. After finishing one powwow in Massachusetts, they arrive for another in Connecticut, where they are preparing for the grand entry when their grandparents leave them alone for a minute at their booth. Before they know it, they are approached by a stranger who calls himself Lester Laughing. Lester is dressed in old-time regalia. He wears authentic buckskin and carries a big, eagle-feather fan. He stands out due to a scar next to his nose, and he says he knows their family. When he gives them an old map, asking them to keep it a secret from their grandparents, they head off on an adventure with a surprise at the end. Building his story around the trope of the Indian ghost, Abenaki author Bruchac addresses cultural practices in a loving Native family with sweet touches of humor. Deforest, who grew up on the Navajo reservation, gives his characters big, warm eyes and open, cartoon faces that make the illustrations familiar, warm, and friendly. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 30.3% of actual size.)
A satisfying story in which two children discover the love of an ancestor. (Graphic/mystery hybrid. 7-10)Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4788-6870-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Reycraft Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2020
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape.
The fourth installment in Delacre’s early-reader series centers on the rich musical traditions of Puerto Rico, once again featuring sibling tree frogs Rafi and Rosi Coquí.
Readers learn along with Rafi and Rosi as they explore bomba, plena, and salsa in three chapters. A glossary at the beginning sets readers up well to understand the Spanish vocabulary, including accurate phoneticization for non-Spanish speakers. The stories focus on Rafi and Rosi’s relationship within a musical context. For example, in one chapter Rafi finds out that he attracts a larger audience playing his homemade güiro with Rosi’s help even though he initially excluded her: “Big brothers only.” Even when he makes mistakes, as the older brother, Rafi consoles Rosi when she is embarrassed or angry at him. In each instance, their shared joy for music and dance ultimately shines through any upsets—a valuable reflection of unity. Informational backmatter and author’s sources are extensive. Undoubtedly these will help teachers, librarians, and parents to develop Puerto Rican cultural programs, curriculum, or home activities to extend young readers’ learning. The inclusion of instructions to make one’s own homemade güiro is a thoughtful addition. The Spanish translation, also by Delacre and published simultaneously, will require a more advanced reader than the English one to recognize and comprehend contractions (“pa’bajo-pa-pa’rriba”) and relatively sophisticated vocabulary.
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape. (Early reader. 7-9)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-89239-429-6
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Children's Book Press
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
Move over Ramona Quimby, Portland has another neighbor you have to meet!
Ryan Hart is navigating the fourth grade and all its challenges with determination.
Her mom named her Ryan because it means “king,” and she wanted Ryan to feel powerful every time she heard her name; Ryan knows it means she is a leader. So when changes occur or disaster strikes, budding chef Ryan does her best to find the positive and “make sunshine.” When her dad is laid off from the post office, the family must make adjustments that include moving into a smaller house, selling their car, and changing how they shop for groceries. But Ryan gets to stay at Vernon Elementary, and her mom still finds a way to get her the ingredients she needs to practice new recipes. Her older brother, Ray, can be bossy, but he finds little ways to support her, especially when she is down—as does the whole family. Each episodic chapter confronts Ryan with a situation; intermittently funny, frustrating, and touching, they should be familiar and accessible to readers, as when Ryan fumbles her Easter speech despite careful practice. Ryan, her family, and friends are Black, and Watson continues to bring visibility to both Portland, Oregon, generally and its Black community specifically, making another wonderful contribution that allows Black readers to see themselves and all readers to find a character they can love.
Move over Ramona Quimby, Portland has another neighbor you have to meet! (Fiction. 8-10)Pub Date: April 28, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0056-4
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2020
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