PICTURE BOOK REVIEWS: Alma and How She Got Her Name/I Am A BIrd/Julian is a Mermaid
ABOUT THE BOOK
If you ask her, Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has way too many names: six! How did such a small person wind up with such a large name? Alma turns to Daddy for an answer and learns of Sofia, the grandmother who loved books and flowers; Esperanza, the great-grandmother who longed to travel; José, the grandfather who was an artist; and other namesakes, too. As she hears the story of her name, Alma starts to think it might be a perfect fit after all — and realizes that she will one day have her own story to tell. In her author-illustrator debut, Juana Martinez-Neal opens a treasure box of discovery for children who may be curious about their own origin stories or names.
REVIEW
This cute book focuses on the family members from whom Alma gets her name. As her father explains to her about each of the people she is named after, she starts to appreciate the value of those family connections. She sees that she has characteristics in common with her ancestors and has her own story to tell just like they did. The illustrations are darling in their blue, black, and red shades allowing the reader to focus on Alma and her concerns. The book also encourages young readers/listeners to think about their own names and the stories they have to tell. A delightful book that opens the door to what could be some pretty interesting family conversations and a chance for young readers/listeners to begin to understand their own stories.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Celebrate the bonds between fathers, sons, and nature with this lovely, sun-drenched debut picture book.
I am a bird. I glide
into arms open wide.
I’m the hands that hold
and the eyes that shine…
when it’s you
and it’s me
and the sea.
A boy and his father spend their day at the beach, exploring the shore, the sand, the water, and everything in between. The result is a warm, elegant celebration of nature, connection, and the myriad relationships formed all around us.
REVIEW
My favorite part of this book is the illustrations. They are so bright and colorful and joy filled that you can almost feel the fun that the father and sun are having as they pretend to be birds, waves, and branches. Each action or experience leads to the next, starting with a bird, then a fly, then land, then the ocean, etc. The boy's imagination is fed by the things he sees and experiences. He sees a bird, he pretends to be a bird. He sees the wave crests, he pretends to be a crest. The poem and illustrations complement each other nicely with the illustrations expanding beautifully the simple words of the poem.
ABOUT THE BOOK
While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a periwinkle curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes — and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself? Mesmerizing and full of heart, Jessica Love’s author-illustrator debut is a jubilant picture of self-love and a radiant celebration of individuality.
REVIEW
Julian sees three women dressed as mermaids one day on the subway and loves their costumes. When he and his grandmother get home, he creates his own costume while his grandmother baths. The key moment is when his grandmother gets out of the bath and sees what he has done. The reader knows that her reaction will either make or break the boy. Now whether you agree with a boy loving mermaids or not, the theme of the need children have to be creative shines through loud and clear. And Julian's grandmother understands that and instead of smothering his efforts she encourages him. The illustrations are lovely and do a great job of demonstrating the fascination that Julian has with the mermaids he sees and the joy he experiences from copying what he has seen in his own way.
All three look like terrific books. Thanks the suggestions and congratulations to all the authors and illustrators.
ReplyDelete