Dreams for Black children manifest in striking art as the very idea of streetis reimagined.
In an already-special neighborhood, a very special street ensures that a community is able to thrive.
Dream Street is an appropriately named space for Black kids to play and grow with the nourishment and support of their elders. From the chalk drawings and hopscotch boards to the garden behind Dessa Rae’s house or Ede’s treasure trove at the top of the hill, the neighborhood very much teems with life and the aspirations of these young people. Holmes’ brilliantly hued collage work and Walker’s detailed genealogy of the street show how Ms. Sarah the Hat Lady, the dapper retiree Mr. Sidney, Ms. Barbara the friendly librarian, and several other adults have all paved the way for Dream Street to be an avenue of communal enrichment and thoughtful preparation for everything that awaits these kids. The book is more a collection of character studies than a story, and each double-page spread is devoted to one person or, sometimes, a group. Walker’s text sits opposite Holmes’ portraits, which occupy as much space as they need. The five Phillips boys, all named for jazz musicians, stand close together for a single-page vertical composition in their Sunday suits; Dessa Rae’s portrait extends across the gutter, allowing her to stretch out in a chaise longue with grandbaby Little Song pillowed on her chest. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Dreams for Black children manifest in striking art as the very idea of streetis reimagined. (author & illustrator's note) (Picture book. 4-10)Pub Date: Nov. 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-525-58110-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Anne Schwartz/Random
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.
Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.
Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464268076
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026
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