Royally fabulous.
Renowned Colombian American drag queen and political activist José Sarria (1922-2013) takes center stage in this inspirational portrait.
A fairy-tale flourish opens this whimsical biographical tribute. “Once upon a time, in a land called San Francisco, there lived a boy named José who dreamed of royalty.” Though his supportive family dotes on him, dressing him in finery and tending to his every desire, his mother warns him that not everyone believes boys should be queens. Chu and Shaffer then guide readers through periods of José’s life: his heroic stint in the army during World War II; his return to a changed San Francisco, where queer people were terrorized by an increasingly anti-LGBTQ+ police force; and his run for public office in 1961 as the first known openly gay candidate. These utterly exuberant snapshots consistently underscore the Queen of San Francisco’s indomitable, altruistic spirit. Throughout each chosen highlight, the authors vividly portray José as a fierce, righteous voice for queens (and friends!) everywhere, from his celebrated performances at the Black Cat Café to his activism within the LGBTQ+ community. The fantastical tone never wavers, an intentionally age-appropriate approach favored by the authors. Lozito’s soft, rich artwork, meanwhile, practically leaps off the page, heightening the magical sensibility. An informative authors’ note and timeline help to ground the Absolute Empress of San Francisco’s story with just the right amount of context.
Royally fabulous. (photos) (Picture-book biography. 4-8)Pub Date: April 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781419780806
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
A supplemental rather than introductory book on the great artist.
Frida Kahlo’s strong affection for and identification with animals form the lens through which readers view her life and work in this picture-book biography.
Each two-page spread introduces one or more of her pets, comparing her characteristics to theirs and adding biographical details. Confusingly for young readers, the beginning pages reference pets she owned as an adult, yet the illustrations and events referred to come from earlier in her life. Bonito the parrot perches in a tree overlooking young Frida and her family in her childhood home and pops up again later, just before the first mention of Diego Rivera. Granizo, the fawn, another pet from her adult years, is pictured beside a young Frida and her father along with a description of “her life as a little girl.” The author’s note adds important details about Kahlo’s life and her significance as an artist, as well as recommending specific paintings that feature her beloved animals. Expressive acrylic paintings expertly evoke Kahlo’s style and color palette. While young animal lovers will identify with her attachment to her pets and may enjoy learning about the Aztec origins of her Xolo dogs and the meaning of turkeys in ancient Mexico, the book may be of most interest to those who already have an interest in Kahlo’s life.
A supplemental rather than introductory book on the great artist. (Picture book/biography. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4269-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: NorthSouth
Review Posted Online: June 18, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
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