ELIJAH GOES TO CLEVELAND

In this travel/picture book, a little boy’s scavenger hunt takes him to Cleveland landmarks and historical sites.

When Elijah and his parents arrive in Cleveland to visit his grandma and grandpa, he learns that his “FAVORITE BAND IN THE WHOLE WORLD” will be headlining at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. An offer of free tickets sets Elijah and his grandparents off on a scavenger hunt. To earn the tickets, they must follow clues on the band’s website to find its members at sites around the city. With his grandparents helping to decipher the clues by sharing their knowledge of Cleveland and its historical and contemporary points of interest, Elijah makes it to each location, beginning with Public Square and a statue of the city’s founder, Moses Cleaveland. But each time the trio arrives, the band members have moved on to the next site. Will Elijah and his family get those free tickets after all? Darden’s lively tale is enhanced by Elijah’s enthusiasm and Bui’s varied city settings—including the West Side Market, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and the Wade Lagoon at the Cleveland Museum of Art—and character-rich renderings of the boy and his supportive Black family. The book includes an illustrated map and a list of the places Elijah visits, with additional background information. (If the author isn’t already planning a series featuring Elijah’s travels, he should consider it.)

An appealing young boy and his family star in a tribute to an Ohio city.