IMARA'S TIARA

In this illustrated children’s book, a young girl wants to study a giraffe but the animal has other ideas.

Naomi is a curious 8-year-old Black girl with a scientific mind who sets out to learn about giraffes. But what she doesn’t expect is that her chosen subject, Imara, will be just as inquisitive about her. As she takes notes in her blue zoology notebook with her fluffy pink pen, Naomi tries to make worthwhile observations even though she can’t find Imara. She doesn’t know that Imara is actually right behind her the entire time. Parallel to Naomi’s purple-tinted narration are Imara’s own orange-hued thoughts. But the giraffe doesn’t have science on her mind: She’s focused solely on the blue-and-pink heart-shaped tiara Naomi wears, a gift from her grandmother. Imara waits until the perfect moment to snatch it, only to fail and to finally meet Naomi face to face. Naomi then goes home to try to figure out what Imara wants from her. This charming, lively book models for readers the process of making scientific observations and collecting facts. It tells its story quickly and could use fleshing out. Still, the work is able to convey a substantial amount of giraffe-related trivia, both in the text and in the aftermatter depicting Naomi’s notebook. Stoltz and Bailey’s text dances around the illustrations playfully, as when they bend around Imara’s ear, and the sound effects of her chewing appear by her mouth on a page. Bailey’s pictures are simple but expressive, just like the tale itself. Their warm earth tones set readers in a friendly and natural environment, while the colors in Naomi’s outfit bring sparkle to the setting. This story may appeal to preschool fans of television shows such as The Wild Kratts and books like A Sick Day for Amos McGee (2010) by Philip Stead.

A cute zoological tale that’s perfect for preschoolers.