JOHARI THE GREAT

In Dunsen-White’s chapter book for early readers, fifth-grader Johari is excited to present his entry in the school’s story-writing contest.

Johari is about to compete in a story-writing contest, reading his original story to an audience of his peers from three fifth-grade classrooms. He is nervous, too: His story is the last to be presented before the judging for first place begins, and, hearing the loud applause the student before him just received, he can tell her story was a big hit. Johari’s mystery adventure, starring “Johari the Great” as a superhero detective, is about solving a case involving teachers disappearing from his elementary school. Can it take the top prize? And will his fellow students and teachers understand the twist ending that Johari is so proud of? In this chapter book featuring Black characters, the author delivers clear messages about the value of validation and support from caregivers and teachers like Johari’s, who encourage students to explore self-expression and creative thinking. Dunsen-White crafts Johari’s “greatest adventure story ever” as a tale-within-a-tale, deftly illustrating how the fifth-grader uses his imagination to come up with ideas and put them all together. Throughout, Johari’s sense of accomplishment, affirmed by his caring parents (his dad’s daily send-off: “Make this your best day yet, Little Man.…learn something new and do something great!”) comes through naturally, page after page. Visually, the text is clear and well-spaced, as are the spot drawings and a few half-page and full-page illustrations rendered by White in pleasing saturated colors and clean lines. The book ends with two sets of questions: one for reading comprehension, the other intended to launch readers’ own creative thinking (“What do you think is ‘bubbling up’ inside of you?”).

Inspiring messages of confidence-building and positivity, with a lively, relatable kid at the center.