A reverent, felicitous, and accessible introduction to one of the world’s most subversive artists.
An Italian author/illustrator pays homage to Banksy, the world-famous, anonymous street artist.
Readers see Banksy on the book’s first spread, saying in a plainspoken, first-person narration, “Nobody knows who I really am, and that way, I stay out of trouble.” All humans in the book, including Banksy, are depicted in an offbeat, stylized cartoon manner, with stick arms and legs and oversized, bulging eyes; they are all black forms with paper-white faces on uncluttered, solid white backgrounds. Banksy hides in hooded black clothing, only eyes and a nose showing, describing artistic themes (anti-war, political, environmental); media (spray paint and stencils, sculpture); style (graffiti); and subjects (rats, soldiers, the Mona Lisa). Banksy also tells readers about various exhibitions and artistic projects—including the more-well-known ones (the painting that self-destructed in a shredder after purchase); the lesser-known ones (filling a meat truck with stuffed animals); and the exceptionally elaborate ones (Dismaland)—and theories about who Banksy is. (“There are lots of different theories. Some of them…pretty wild!”) Banksy speaks with a wry sense of humor and, just as the title indicates, without apology (“I do it without permission and I’m not sorry”), also emphasizing that art should be for everyone, not just the rich: “I don’t really like selling my work for lots of money.” Appended is more information about Banksy and a reproduction of Girl With Balloon. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8.46-by-16.92-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
A reverent, felicitous, and accessible introduction to one of the world’s most subversive artists. (Informational picture book. 5-10)Pub Date: April 7, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-83866-260-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Phaidon
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2021
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
An inspirational look at one girl’s quest to make sure that all skin tones are visible and available in the classroom.
A Black girl’s simple observation propels her into activism.
Woodard, who launched the More Than Peach Project—which arranges for classrooms and children in need to receive kits that include art supplies and boxes of multicultural crayons (crayons in a variety of skin tones)—relates the incident that sparked her journey. As the book begins, she is dropped off at school and notices that her family’s skin tone differs from that of her classmates. While it is clear that she is one of a few children of color at school, that difference isn’t really felt until her friends start asking for the “skin-color” crayon when they mean peach. She’s bothered that no one else seems to notice that skin comes in many colors, so she devises a unique way of bringing everyone’s attention to that fact. With support from her family and her school, she encourages her fellow classmates to rethink their language and starts an initiative to ensure that everyone’s skin tone is represented in each crayon box. Appealing, realistic artwork depicts Woodard’s experiences, while endpapers feature More Than Peach crayon boxes and childlike illustrations of kids of different ethnicities doing various activities. The story is stirring and will motivate budding activists. (This book was reviewed digitally; the review has been updated for factual accuracy.)
An inspirational look at one girl’s quest to make sure that all skin tones are visible and available in the classroom. (note from Woodard, information on Woodard’s journey into activism, instructions on starting a drive) (Picture-book biography. 6-10)Pub Date: July 26, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-80927-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
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