A big-hearted, inclusive celebration of what America can be and how it arrived there.
Through a depiction of landmark moments, this illustrated, bilingual children’s book reflects with poetic solemnity on 250 years of American history.
Commencing with the Declaration of Independence in 1776 (though acknowledging the rich culture, history, and traditions of Indigenous peoples before this date), Calderón pens short poems to commemorate key events in the shaping of modern America. These encompass a diverse range of experiences, including those of Native Americans, immigrants, the enslaved, women, African and Hispanic Americans, and disabled persons. Each event is accompanied by a two-page illustration and a corresponding poem, presented first in Spanish (left page) and then English (right page). The book’s subtitle—“Little Eyes, Big Moments”—suggests a focus on child perspectives. But while the concluding spread (“2026—Present Day”) exhorts youngsters to be aware of their place in an unfolding story, only one of the inciting incidents, “1954—Brown v. Board of Education,” explicitly involves a kid: “A child steps forward, head high.” The implication is that children are affected by change, and that those shaping today’s history should keep them at the forefront of their thinking. Calderón’s non-rhyming poems don’t so much relate details as layer a modern, emotional perspective onto events, evoking a sense of how moments of historical importance make readers feel now. As such, they tend to emphasize what was achieved rather than the difficulties or conflicts involved. This attitude is reflected in De Luca’s digital illustrations, which, though nostalgically evocative of vintage picture-book drawings, skirt dangerously close to a rose-tinted perspective. For instance, “1865—Slavery Abolition” presents smiling members of a Black American family who, despite their broken chains and slightly ragged clothes, seem too little the worse for wear as representatives of the struggle endured. This bonhomie is a recurring theme, with the Native Americans of “1804—Lewis & Clark Expedition” and “1838—The Trail of Tears” seemingly at ease with what’s happening. Such qualms notwithstanding, the captivating book’s positive intent is evident throughout, with Calderón and De Luca bringing into focus much that is worth applauding, or at least considering, in modern-day contemplations of the United States.
A big-hearted, inclusive celebration of what America can be and how it arrived there.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions.
Ellis, known for her illustrations for Colin Meloy’s Wildwood series, here riffs on the concept of “home.”
Shifting among homes mundane and speculative, contemporary and not, Ellis begins and ends with views of her own home and a peek into her studio. She highlights palaces and mansions, but she also takes readers to animal homes and a certain famously folkloric shoe (whose iconic Old Woman manages a passel of multiethnic kids absorbed in daring games). One spread showcases “some folks” who “live on the road”; a band unloads its tour bus in front of a theater marquee. Ellis’ compelling ink and gouache paintings, in a palette of blue-grays, sepia and brick red, depict scenes ranging from mythical, underwater Atlantis to a distant moonscape. Another spread, depicting a garden and large building under connected, transparent domes, invites readers to wonder: “Who in the world lives here? / And why?” (Earth is seen as a distant blue marble.) Some of Ellis’ chosen depictions, oddly juxtaposed and stripped of any historical or cultural context due to the stylized design and spare text, become stereotypical. “Some homes are boats. / Some homes are wigwams.” A sailing ship’s crew seems poised to land near a trio of men clad in breechcloths—otherwise unidentified and unremarked upon.
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6529-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2014
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