READ AND RISE

An inspiring poem by Maya Angelou and a full-page illustration of a golden sun against a buttery background introduce this slight but bright effort, co-sponsored by the National Urban League, to empower African-American children and to promote literacy. Scores of vibrant color photographs accompany the minimal text, snippets that approximate free verse and describe the adventures that young readers can embark upon. The adventures are portrayed in three ways, with a bit of text, an attractive photograph of the children reading about the adventure and another photograph (or several) of the children undertaking it. The adventures range from rescuing people as a fireman to dancing in a pink tutu and tiara to examining an ailing stuffed animal with a plastic stethoscope. Bright multicolor backgrounds make the pictures and text pop even more. The abundance and clarity of the photographs allow the very young to “read” from cover to cover. An attractive introduction. (Picture book. 4-8)