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THE STORY OF ZEN THE ZEBRA

For school libraries serving diverse communities, this vibrant animal allegory set in Africa should be a hit.

A resolute zebra proves that the color of his stripes doesn’t determine his value in this illustrated picture book.

Zen the Zebra loves to run, and he’s so fast that he constantly brags how he can beat all the other animals in a race. The lions know they don’t stand a chance at catching him, and while the cheetahs give it their best shot, even they can’t keep up with the zebra. Out of competitors, Zen decides to find some zebras to race, outpacing several predators along the way. But when he finds a zebra herd, which includes an improbably pink-maned mare whom no one discriminates against because of her odd coloring, the members all ignore Zen because he is white-and-black (his hooves are white) rather than black-and-white (their hooves are black). Zen is properly confused by this arbitrary difference, and to prove his worth, he challenges the whole herd to a race, giving the group a head start. The superfast Zen easily beats his rivals, but rather than lording it over them the way he gloated early on in the book, he offers his hoof in friendship after the black-and-white zebra leader admits “we are the ones who are inferior.” He then asks Zen for speed training. Tellem (Krazy Kathleen, 2016, etc.) touches on some excellent topics, particularly in his depiction of the zebras’ arbitrary racism. But while Zen’s arrogance is backed by his skill, this trait is never particularly admirable. And though he easily forgives a slight, there’s no development on his part that shows his growth from boasting to understanding. In addition, the only female character—the pink-maned zebra—has no role other than to be the animal Zen most wants to impress. The vocabulary is appropriate for young independent readers, but the shifts in type size and some odd placement of the text on the spread where Zen eludes various predators may confuse audiences. Despite those flaws, children are sure to be drawn to Nailon’s (Of Course I Love You!, 2013, etc.) vivid African creatures and landscapes. And the tale’s overarching theme of friendship and forgiveness triumphing over racism remains a strong one.

For school libraries serving diverse communities, this vibrant animal allegory set in Africa should be a hit.

Pub Date: Jan. 15, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-9799653-1-9

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Swordpen Publishers

Review Posted Online: March 31, 2017

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TALES FOR VERY PICKY EATERS

Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)

Pub Date: May 1, 2011

ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Clarion Books

Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011

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BEYOND MULBERRY GLEN

An absorbing fantasy centered on a resilient female protagonist facing growth, change, and self-empowerment.

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In Florence’s middle-grade fantasy novel, a young girl’s heart is tested in the face of an evil, spreading Darkness.

Eleven-year-old Lydia, “freckle-cheeked and round-eyed, with hair the color of pine bark and fair skin,” is struggling with the knowledge that she has reached the age to apprentice as an herbalist. Lydia is reluctant to leave her beloved, magical Mulberry Glen and her cozy Housetree in the woods—she’ll miss Garder, the Glen’s respected philosopher; her fairy guardian Pit; her human friend Livy; and even the mischievous part-elf, part-imp, part-human twins Zale and Zamilla. But the twins go missing after hearing of a soul-sapping Darkness that has swallowed a forest and is creeping into minds and engulfing entire towns. They have secretly left to find a rare fruit that, it is said, will stop the Darkness if thrown into the heart of the mountain that rises out of the lethal forest. Lydia follows, determined to find the twins before they, too, fall victim to the Darkness. During her journey, accompanied by new friends, she gradually realizes that she herself has a dangerous role to play in the quest to stop the Darkness. In this well-crafted fantasy, Florence skillfully equates the physical manifestation of Darkness with the feelings of insecurity and powerlessness that Lydia first struggles with when thinking of leaving the Glen. Such negative thoughts grow more intrusive the closer she and her friends come to the Darkness—and to Lydia’s ultimate, powerfully rendered test of character, which leads to a satisfyingly realistic, not quite happily-ever-after ending. Highlights include a delightfully haunting, reality-shifting library and a deft sprinkling of Latin throughout the text; Pit’s pet name for Lydia is mea flosculus (“my little flower”). Fine-lined ink drawings introducing each chapter add a pleasing visual element to this well-grounded fairy tale.

An absorbing fantasy centered on a resilient female protagonist facing growth, change, and self-empowerment.

Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025

ISBN: 9781956393095

Page Count: 288

Publisher: Waxwing Books

Review Posted Online: Oct. 14, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2025

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