Uplifting and glowing.
A picture-book salute to pioneering dancer Debbie Allen.
“In the heart / of the Third Ward / of Houston, Texas, / beneath a star-covered sky… / the wind stirs its nighttime song / as Debbie begins.” Young Debbie starts to dance. But it’s the 1950s, and Black people face barriers: “White signs / painted with black words / with a message loud and clear: / people like Debbie / are simply not welcome here.” “Here” includes the local dance school. Debbie’s mother can’t abide the thought of her daughter’s wasted potential and dashed dreams, so “with the wind at their backs, / they cross the border, / feet planted on new soil.” Charles’ poetic approach to biographizing Allen’s childhood is lovely, though at times it relegates details to the backmatter: The “new soil” where Debbie and her mother relocate isn’t identified in the main narrative, for instance, though the author’s note clarifies that it’s Mexico City. Nor does the main text clue in readers about Allen’s considerable adult accomplishments; readers learn only that Debbie returns to Houston after “some years,” continues to dance, and ultimately enjoys a successful stage career: “Beneath the white-bright lights, / the music sings / as history unfolds.” Still, the verse sparkles, and the book’s reach-for-the-sky imperative is reinforced by Lucius’ sleek and glossy digital art, in which dancing Debbie is frequently flanked by twinkly stars.
Uplifting and glowing. (further resources, timeline) (Picture-book biography. 5-8)Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
ISBN: 9781623545659
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2025
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
A brief but sweet snapshot of an inspiring girl who finds hope in song.
Through the power of music, Lucimarian Tolliver is reminded of what’s important.
Lucy is one of the only children of African descent on her block—called Lucy Street—in 1930s Akron, Ohio, but all her neighbors share one commonality: poverty. Lucy’s carefree spirit is dampened when her family’s furniture is repossessed one day. She visits her grandfather, who comforts her by singing the folk standard “This Little Light of Mine.” Grandpa tells Lucy that she’s destined for greatness and that she should never stop singing, even through life’s toughest moments. Back at home, Lucy’s father scolds her for singing at the dinner table, so she quickly finishes eating and wanders outside and sings into the night. Her voice reaches her family and neighbors, who are all touched by her song. Digital illustrations evoke the time period in muted tones, featuring endearing characters with simple yet expressive features. The visual subject matter is repetitive from page to page, as are the incorporated lyrics of “This Little Light of Mine.” Based on Lucimarian Tolliver’s experiences growing up during the Depression, the text contains an epilogue but lacks backmatter detailing historical context or more information about Lucy’s life. Though the themes of optimism and the importance of family, faith, and music shine through the text, readers may be left with more questions than answers.
A brief but sweet snapshot of an inspiring girl who finds hope in song. (Picture-book biography. 5-7)Pub Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN: 9780063222540
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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