Inkishu (cattle), which are the measure of wealth for traditional Maasai, figure prominently in this collection of poetry, stories, and art from a publisher based in Nairobi. Four folktales collected from a Maasai elder illuminate relationships between his people and the world around them: how God (Enkai) first gave them cattle and forced them to stop their wars; how ``Enaiminie Enkiyio,'' the Forest of the Lost Child, earned its melancholy name; how Ole Partukei, a savage, greedy giant, broke a promise to leave his neighbors' herds alone and so died. The language is formal but not stiff. Each story is illustrated by a different Kenyan artist working in a free-flowing modern style and a variety of media and is prefaced by a color photo, an explanatory ``Preamble,'' and one or two short poems. Ideas old and new mix revealingly in this handsomely produced glimpse into the heart of a living traditional culture. Biographical sketches; glossary. (Folklore. 9+)
Pub Date: April 1, 1994
ISBN: 9966-884-97-1
Page Count: 73
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1994
Ultimately adds little to conversations about race.
A popular YouTube series on race, “Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man,” turns how-to manual and history lesson for young readers.
Acho is a former NFL player and second-generation Nigerian American who cites his upbringing in predominantly White spaces as well as his tenure on largely Black football teams as qualifications for facilitating the titular conversations about anti-Black racism. The broad range of subjects covered here includes implicit bias, cultural appropriation, and systemic racism. Each chapter features brief overviews of American history, personal anecdotes of Acho’s struggles with his own anti-Black biases, and sections titled “Let’s Get Uncomfortable.” The book’s centering of Whiteness and White readers seems to show up, to the detriment of its subject matter, both in Acho’s accounts of his upbringing and his thought processes regarding race. The overall tone unfortunately conveys a sense of expecting little from a younger generation who may have a greater awareness than he did at the same age and who, therefore, may already be uncomfortable with racial injustice itself. The attempt at an avuncular tone disappointingly reads as condescending, revealing that, despite his online success with adults, the author is ill-equipped to be writing for middle-grade readers. Chapters dedicated to explaining to White readers why they shouldn’t use the N-word and how valuable White allyship is may make readers of color (and many White readers) bristle with indignation and discomfort despite Acho’s positive intentions.
Ultimately adds little to conversations about race. (glossary, FAQ, recommended reading, references) (Nonfiction. 10-14)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-80106-7
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2021
It’s good CEOs are around to offer advice on problem solving. After all, what would the world be like “if Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Eleanor Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, or Steve Jobs had thought that they couldn’t change anything”? An adaptation for young readers of Watanabe’s bestselling Problem Solving 101: A Simple Book for Smart People (2009), this volume will, ostensibly, teach young people how to solve problems and make it to the top. Beginning with attitudes that hamper problem solving—personified by Sophie Sigh, Chris Critic, Darla Dreamer and Gary Go-Getter—the guide proceeds with a full array of colorful charts, cartoons, steps, strategies and pros and cons, with cutesy characters Rita, Rad and Remi, Kiwi and Carlos to lead the way to success. One of the problems to solve may well be how to get through this guide—not as easy as the subtitle suggests. Smith’s cartoonish illustrations and the splashy colors aren’t enough to make young readers want to wade through all of the tips, grids and strategies. (Self-help. 10 & up)
Pub Date: June 8, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-670-01203-9
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2010
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