An illuminating account of an early genius.
This illustrated children’s book offers a biography of a famous architect and doctor and places his and Egypt’s legacies in the context of African history.
Imhotep was born and raised in ancient Kemet, a nation that would one day become Egypt. The child of an architect, Imhotep was curious at a young age and constructed small mastabas, precursors to pyramids, modeled after the one his father built. Even as a youngster, Imhotep began making advances, challenging contemporary thought about structure and materials. Aire’s tale follows Imhotep from childhood to his later years as he rose to the position of vizier to King Djoser. Most of the details about the architect’s life focus on science, but other elements depict the common belief in Egyptian deities, such as crediting Imhotep with solving a flood problem by recognizing a god’s anger that his temple had been ill cared for. Much of Aire’s solid biography is told in simple sentences with accessible vocabulary complemented by a glossary and pronunciation guide in the opening pages. In the end pages, the author provides denser descriptions of Imhotep’s accomplishments and how the polymath shaped Egyptian civilization with his progressive techniques in architecture, medicine, and writing. Further discussion of Egypt’s history situates the civilization in context with the people of ancient Nubia as well as the Middle East. Vera and Kyrpenko’s detailed illustrations portray a diverse Kemet, with people of many different skin colors sharing the same civilization and culture. The digital paintings show the hairstyles and clothing frequently depicted in hieroglyphics, grounding the child-friendly style in history. Most pages feature Imhotep’s cat for children to find in the background, enticing young lap readers to stay focused on the images while their parents read the text aloud. Imhotep’s natural curiosity and childlike questions should resonate with young readers, and Aire’s lyrical prose (“The people were desperate for food, water, and hope”) is likely to appeal to adults, especially with repeated readings. Older independent readers, especially those who love ancient Egypt, are sure to gain a new perspective by following this historical figure.
An illuminating account of an early genius.Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2022
ISBN: 9781777117993
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Our Ancestories
Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.” (Picture book. 4-8)
Bewitched by the rhythms of jazz all around her in Depression-era Kansas City, little Melba Doretta Liston longs to make music in this fictional account of a little-known jazz great.
Picking up the trombone at 7, the little girl teaches herself to play with the support of her Grandpa John and Momma Lucille, performing on the radio at 8 and touring as a pro at just 17. Both text and illustrations make it clear that it’s not all easy for Melba; “The Best Service for WHITES ONLY” reads a sign in a hotel window as the narrative describes a bigotry-plagued tour in the South with Billie Holiday. But joy carries the day, and the story ends on a high note, with Melba “dazzling audiences and making headlines” around the world. Russell-Brown’s debut text has an innate musicality, mixing judicious use of onomatopoeia with often sonorous prose. Morrison’s sinuous, exaggerated lines are the perfect match for Melba’s story; she puts her entire body into her playing, the exaggerated arch of her back and thrust of her shoulders mirroring the curves of her instrument. In one thrilling spread, the evening gown–clad instrumentalist stands over the male musicians, her slide crossing the gutter while the back bow disappears off the page to the left. An impressive discography complements a two-page afterword and a thorough bibliography.
Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.” (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-60060-898-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2014
Lovely illustrations wasted on this misguided project.
The Celebrate the World series spotlights Lunar New Year.
This board book blends expository text and first-person-plural narrative, introducing readers to the holiday. Chau’s distinctive, finely textured watercolor paintings add depth, transitioning smoothly from a grand cityscape to the dining room table, from fantasies of the past to dumplings of the present. The text attempts to provide a broad look at the subject, including other names for the celebration, related cosmology, and historical background, as well as a more-personal discussion of traditions and practices. Yet it’s never clear who the narrator is—while the narrative indicates the existence of some consistent, monolithic group who participates in specific rituals of celebration (“Before the new year celebrations begin, we clean our homes—and ourselves!”), the illustrations depict different people in every image. Indeed, observances of Lunar New Year are as diverse as the people who celebrate it, which neither the text nor the images—all of the people appear to be Asian—fully acknowledges. Also unclear is the book’s intended audience. With large blocks of explication on every spread, it is entirely unappealing for the board-book set, and the format may make it equally unattractive to an older, more appropriate audience. Still, readers may appreciate seeing an important celebration warmly and vibrantly portrayed.
Lovely illustrations wasted on this misguided project. (Board book. 4-8)Pub Date: Dec. 11, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5344-3303-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Dec. 4, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019
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