Spotlights a commendable role model and his rich heritage.
A nation honors an extraordinary warrior who never forgot his identity.
Every year since 1942, the Osage people have sung their ceremonial drum song to remember the first Native American general, Clarence Tinker, who was killed during the Battle of Midway in World War II. Rogers (Wichita) shares Major General Clarence Tinker’s heartaches and successes and honors his legacy of service. She explains how, years before he was born, the Osage were removed from their land by European settlers. As a child, Tinker was sent to boarding school and made to give up his Indigenous customs. He refused to forget them, however, and constantly reminded himself that he was Osage. He joined the Army Air Corps and longed to serve in World War I, but his commanding officer wouldn’t allow it. (“Is it because I am Osage?” he wondered.) He eventually realized his dream of becoming a pilot, and in 1942, he became the highest-ranking Indigenous American in history. The repeated phrase “I am Osage” establishes a rhythm throughout the story, like a drum beat, and appears at pivotal points in Tinker’s life. Von Martin’s bold, photorealistic images complement the text; lighter, superimposed images of his ancestors make it clear that Tinker’s Osage identity was a constant source of strength. Rogers’ storytelling brings to life a kindhearted, resilient historical figure who was devoted to his community.
Spotlights a commendable role model and his rich heritage. (author’s note, Osage and Wichita history, timeline, note from author-curator of Heartdrum) (Picture-book biography. 6-10)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9780063081161
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Heartdrum
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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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