THE LOST HOMEWORK

So busy is a young Traveler’s weekend that he doesn’t realize until too late that he’s misplaced his homework book.

In the latest of a string of episodes richly infused with Traveler culture, O’Neill (Polonius the Pit Pony, 2018, etc.) pitches bitti mush (little man) Sonny into preparations for a cousin’s wedding that begin with cleaning the special cart and continue through watching a farrier make a new shoe for the driving gry (cart horse) to planning the road trip, dancing after the wedding, telling stories, and more. Afterward, he helps an older neighbor send an email message and makes popovers for Sunday dinner, among other activities. The next day, after fruitlessly searching for his book, Sonny glumly recounts the events of the weekend to the teacher and his class—who point out that his weekend’s included science (with the farrier), “food tech,” music, English, and every other subject too. The author slips Romani words into the narrative without italicizing them but does provide a glossary. Though Sonny lives in a kushti atchin tan (settled community) Beautyman evokes the Traveler way of life by tucking campers or motor homes into the backgrounds of several scenes. Sonny, olive-skinned and dark-haired, joins neighbors and relatives who display a range of skin tones; his classmates reflect the vigorous diversity of today’s British Isles.

The difference between homework and home work? Nothing, in this case! (Picture book. 6-8)