Reviewed by Deborah Menkart Review Source: Rethinking Schools Book Author: We should all know the story and words of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and now thanks to this picture book, we can. Author Kelly Starling Lyons tells the 120-year history of the song through generations of her family who have […]
Which Side Are You On?
Reviewed by Kyle Lukoff Review Source: KyleLukoff.com Book Author: It’s tremendously challenging to write good picture books about deeply important historical events. The most well-intentioned picture books about Christopher Columbus, or Rosa Parks, or the Vietnam War are often too vague or too specific, overly didactic or just plain boring. Lyon chose an incredibly difficult subject to […]
Solo
Reviewed by Anastasia Shown Review Source: Africa Access Book Author: I enjoyed Solo. The emotions expressed by Blade are true to the teen experience. Rock legends, including Nigerian Fela Kuti, are woven throughout the story and help to push the narrative along. My favorite character is Joy. She is the person who teaches us the most about Ghana. […]
Tito Puente: Mambo King / Rey del Mambo
Reviewed by Sujei Lugo Review Source: Latinx in Kid Lit Book Author: Monica Brown Brown was presented with the challenge of summarizing Tito Puente’s life and music career in a picture book, and with the collaboration of Rafael López and his lovely illustrations, she succeeded wonderfully. What makes this picture book stand out is how beautifully words […]
The First Rule of Punk
Reviewed by Lettycia Terrones Review Source: Latinos in Kid Lit Book Author: There is a scene half-way through Celia C. Pérez’s brilliant middle-grade novel The First Rule of Punk that pulls so powerfully at the heartstrings of all those who have ever struggled with forming their identity as a minoritized person in the U.S. Having just wrapped up […]
Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay
Reviewed by Maria Brescia-Weiler Review Source: Independent Book Author: The story of Ada’s Violin begins in the town of Cateura, Paraguay, home to Asunción’s largest garbage dump and a girl with an early interest in music. Almost everyone Ada knows works as a ganchero, sifting through the piles of trash for recyclable goods. Just as Ada […]
