Scan barcode
jess_mango's review against another edition
5.0
Islandborn is Junot Diaz’s first children’s book. I’ve loved everything else I’ve read by him so figured I’d check this picture book out with my kids. At its core, It’s a story about learning about where your from. The illustrations were colorful and the kids loved looking at them and pointing out different things in the pictures. The story kept them engaged throughout. Highly recommend!!
emmalemonnz's review against another edition
5.0
I cannot explain why, but this book made me cry so hard. I read it at work and had to stop twice to wipe my tears and blow my nose! It's stunning.
shaguftap's review against another edition
4.75
I loved this story about of discovering what’s amazing about the place you come from, learning your heritage and your strengths and the courage it takes to leave all the beauty of home. It is about Lola who goes to a school where everyone is from somewhere else and asks her neighbourhood to tell her more about the Island, the place she comes from so she can learn more and share with others. Truly gorgeous book!
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
5.0
A lovely story with stunningly gorgeous artwork -- this was a delightful read!
I selected this as my pick for the 2020 #AACPLReads prompt for April (read a children's book).
I selected this as my pick for the 2020 #AACPLReads prompt for April (read a children's book).
xsleepyshadows's review against another edition
3.0
The colors in this book are bright, bold, and the illustrations are darling! A small girl has a school project to show where she is from...although they moved when she was a baby so she doesn't remember! She must to talk to family, neighbors, and friends to see what they remember about the island. A combination of much love, terror, and disaster make for a really interesting book and scenes from the interpretation of the child. Really interesting book, would probably make a good talking piece for kids.
~Ashley
~Ashley
mouse55's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mbrandmaier's review against another edition
4.0
"Just because you can't remember a place doesn't mean it isn't in you." Lola gathers info from family and friends about what life was like on the Island where she was born.
librarianoliviarae's review against another edition
3.0
Memory is magic; within you is the place you come from.
I enjoyed this book, the illustrations are beautiful, rich in color, playful, and textured. They perfectly guide a sweet story about learning about one’s history and culture through the oral tradition.
But the story is dense and lacks context which is important for children and those who read with them. I would have appreciated an authors note or facts in the back to ground the story in place and allow parents, teachers, librarians not familiar with the historical context a place to start a conversation with young readers. Perhaps this omission/vagueness was intentional as the experience of islanders fighting a “monster” and coming to America is not necessarily unique, but the story that Lola gathers is. I also was confused by the constant parenthetical mention of Nelson, a boy in Lola’s class. These moments felt like an interruption from an important narrative and were somewhat negative.
Worth reading with older children along with other books about the Dominican Republic and Dominican-American people.
I enjoyed this book, the illustrations are beautiful, rich in color, playful, and textured. They perfectly guide a sweet story about learning about one’s history and culture through the oral tradition.
But the story is dense and lacks context which is important for children and those who read with them. I would have appreciated an authors note or facts in the back to ground the story in place and allow parents, teachers, librarians not familiar with the historical context a place to start a conversation with young readers. Perhaps this omission/vagueness was intentional as the experience of islanders fighting a “monster” and coming to America is not necessarily unique, but the story that Lola gathers is. I also was confused by the constant parenthetical mention of Nelson, a boy in Lola’s class. These moments felt like an interruption from an important narrative and were somewhat negative.
Worth reading with older children along with other books about the Dominican Republic and Dominican-American people.
jesshooves's review against another edition
Espinosa’s illustrations showing how memories transform a New York neighborhood into a harbor of island culture’s heart is truly magical as they depict a little girl collecting and drawing neighbors’ stories of island roots.