An informative, engaging depiction of the life and growth of an exceptional literary talent.
Effervescent text peppered with Austen’s own words tells the story of the beloved novelist, showing how greatness can unfold and how exciting creativity can be.
Myriad threads—young Jane’s early attempts at satire; her participation in family theatrics; the education her family supported and provided; the financial and personal losses she suffered; her rebellion against literary trends; her growth as an artist; her wit, resilience, and observant nature—all come together to present an engaging portrait accompanied by detailed and engaging illustrations that entwine with the story and give a strong sense of the era. Light, pastel-colored interiors share space with gray outdoor scenes, stable verticals and horizontals suggesting the intellectual limitations she encountered. The focus on the evolution of Austen’s genius means that some seemingly important aspects of her life—the fact that her father was a clergyman, her particularly close and continuous relationship with her sister—do not receive full attention. Moreover, the typical role of women of the gentry receives only a brief mention (and those of women of the lower classes not at all), so that young readers will not necessarily understand exactly how groundbreaking Austen’s accomplishments were. What is present, though, is a bright and honest tale of the development of a great writer who grappled with adversity, one that will inspire and fascinate young readers.
An informative, engaging depiction of the life and growth of an exceptional literary talent. (biographical note, author’s note, illustrator’s note, novels, resources, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 5-10)Pub Date: March 30, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0110-3
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
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
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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