Vibrant photography and dynamic storytelling combine in this affirming and celebratory volume.
A folktale and fairy-tale collection that encompasses retold Western stories, African American and African diaspora tales, and original entries.
The first third of this anthology, “Childhood Reimagined,” consists of fairy tales from European traditions that highlight the beauty of Black characters. The original storylines remain largely intact, but these new versions make space for nuanced examinations of the genre, such as in “Goldi, the Girl with the Golden Locs,” in which an indulged, petulant child learns from a bear family about moderation and appreciation. “Our Stories Retold,” the volume’s middle section, presents African and African American tales, from the familiar (“John Henry, the Steel Drivin’ Man”) to ones that may be new to many readers (“Aku, the Sun Maker”). In the closing section, “New Classics: Our Stories,” readers encounter entries that combine contemporary pop-culture references with a fairy-tale lens and ones that present being different as something beautiful. The real highlight is the visual artistry of the photography, which showcases Black children in imaginative outfits and settings—for example, an ethereal Little Mermaid and Hansel and Gretel wearing an Ndebele-influenced take on Bavarian-style clothing. As springboards for further reading and exploration, readers may wish for source notes or context on the stories’ cultures of origin as well as the inspirations for the clothing and adornment.
Vibrant photography and dynamic storytelling combine in this affirming and celebratory volume. (photography credits, model credits) (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: May 23, 2023
ISBN: 9781250281388
Page Count: 272
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
A pleasing premise for book lovers.
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.
When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)
A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780316448222
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
File under “laugh riot.”
A rogue spell-check program’s bid to transform all life-forms into that eminently useful office item, the paper clip, touches off a fresh round of lunar lunacy.
Predicated on the entirely reasonable premise that eliminating all spelling and grammar errors everywhere would logically lead to the necessity of exterminating carbon-based life in the universe, this third series entry combines high stakes with daffy banter and daring exploits. CheckMate—a chipper, jumped-up editing program—has invented the Transmogratron, a giant laser that will fulfill its ultimate goals in both the cyber world and “meatspace.” Facing challenges as random as prankster lunar unicorns and a disarmingly motherly Motherboard, scowling First Cat joins a motley crew of diversely carbon- and silicon-based allies, led by the pearlescent Queen of the Moon. They’re in a race to the finish—diverted occasionally by, for instance, a relentlessly punny comic-book interlude featuring a pair of literal and figurative Pool Sharks. They ultimately triumph thanks to teamwork and moxie. Following a celebratory party and toasts to “new friends…and steadfast comrades” (and, of course, “MEOW”), the story’s energetic, brightly colored panels close with a reveal of the next volume. (“I always hate it when comics end by announcing a sequel. SO CRINGE!” declares an authorial stand-in.) It can’t come too soon.
File under “laugh riot.” (Graphic science fiction. 8-11)Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2024
ISBN: 9780063315280
Page Count: 272
Publisher: HarperAlley
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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