A well-intentioned biographical selection about Betty White that is consciously inclusive and diverse.
A playful tour of Betty White’s life.
A brown-skinned boy’s face lights up in class. Having just learned about a new assignment, choosing a “trailblazing woman” for a presentation, he knows precisely whom to study: Betty White. More than one person suggests he pick a more “traditional” subject, but the boy is adamant. At the library, the boy meets a mysterious woman in the stacks who just happens to be an expert on White and helps him bring his research to life. The boy learns all about White’s groundbreaking career, including her early days as a television host; her production credits, rare for women in the 1950s; her insistent support of a Black dancer during 1954’s The Betty White Show; her work for the American Humane Society; and her awards and starring roles. Finally, the boy is ready to dress up as his heroine for his class presentation. And who should appear in the classroom? That’s Betty! Sincere in its intentions but with some awkward moments (a character named “Darian the Vegetarian Librarian”), this LGBTQ+–friendly selection offers a mirror to children intent on being themselves and focusing on their unique interests, gender-typical or not. Lively illustrations feature a diverse cast. The boy has two fathers, one White and one Black, and the multiracial classroom includes a student in a wheelchair and a teacher with brown skin. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A well-intentioned biographical selection about Betty White that is consciously inclusive and diverse. (timeline, sources) (Picture book/biography. 6-10)Pub Date: Nov. 23, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-79660-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 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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