PICTURE BOOK REVIEWS: Going Down Home with Daddy/You are Never Alone --Available in April 2019


ABOUT THE BOOK

Down home is Granny's house.  Down home is where Lil' Alan and his parents and sister will join grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in a rich celebration of family history.  It's where he will hear stories of ancestors and visit the land that has meant so much to all of them.  And down home is where each of the children will find their way to pay tribute to family history.  All of the other children know what to do...but what will Lil' Alan do?

Richly told and gorgeously illustrated by the team that brought you Ellen's Broom, for which illustrator Daniel Minter received a Coretta Scott King Illustration Honor Award, Going Down Home with Daddy is a story about family history and a celebration of the Black family reunion culture.  But it's also a story about a young boy finding his place in his family, and learning just how valuable a family is to one another.

Because like Daddy says, there's nothing like going down home.

REVIEW

Lil' Alan and his family set off for the family reunion early one morning.  Lil' Alan is both excited and uncertain about the trip.  He's excited to see his extended family, but he doesn't have anything to share for the celebration.  As Lil' Alan and his family enjoy being with family and spend time remembering the past, Lil' Alan develops a greater appreciation for his currently living family members but also for his ancestors as well as the land.  Lyons has told a tale honoring the importance and value of family and family history that will resonate with many readers.  Minter's luminous illustrations shine through with love and joy.  This story is a powerful reminder of the role that family plays in our lives.


ABOUT THE BOOK

From the creators of You Are Stardust and Wild Ideas comes a new informational picture book that explores how humans are inextricably connected to nature. This book draws examples from the clouds and the cosmos, the seafloor and the surface of our skin, to show how we are never alone: we are always surrounded and supported by nature. Whether it's gravity holding us tight; our lungs breathing oxygen synthesized by plants; the countless microorganisms that build our immunity; or the whales whose waste fertilizes the plankton that feed the fish we eat: nature touches every aspect of how we live.

Using lyrical text grounded in current science alongside detailed diorama art, this book presents the idea that we thrive through connections to the land and sea and sky, and togetherness is key to nature. It encourages inquiry-based learning, inviting readers to wonder, ask questions, observe the natural world, and engage with big ideas. An author's note at the end offers more insight into the research behind the text.

REVIEW

The combination of lyrical text and symbolic images makes for a fascinating read in Kelsey and Kim's You are Never Alone.  The gorgeous dioramas (shone in their completeness on the back of the jacket) show adorable children enjoying the wonders of nature.  This creates an imaginative feel for the text that highlights the many ways that nature touches our lives for the better.  With so much focus on the negative interactions between humans and nature and the challenges of climate change, it's easy to get down about the future.  This book highlights the delights that remain with us if we take the time to see them.  A book ripe for discussion between parent or teacher and child.  A very childlike view of the world that reminded me to take the time to "smell the roses" so to speak.

Comments

  1. I love the look of both books, and from the sound of things, the messages they impart are equally important. Thanks for sharing!

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