Reviews

A Sweet Smell of Roses by Eric Velásquez, Angela Johnson

aglclark's review against another edition

4.5

i love the illustrations!

carolineinthelibrary's review against another edition

5.0

A beautiful picture book about two girls who attend their first march with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They're carried through the march by a sweet smell of roses, which is a tying theme throughout the story. Young activists will connect with the strength of our main characters and it's a great reminder that you're never too young to stand up for what you believe in.

lattelibrarian's review against another edition

5.0

This is probably the most beautiful book I've read in a long time.  And by beautiful, I mean beautiful in terms of lyricism, illustrations, symbolism, color theory, style.....it's just wonderful.  I think if I had the time, I could write an entire essay for this picture book.  There are scenes in which our two main characters literally break from the frames and enter a frameless narrative, suggesting freedom and liberty.  Those shouting angrily at them have the 13 stripes of the flag waving behind them, looking like stench marks.  And the use of the color red to illuminate motifs such as a rose, a bow, a flag, suggest both anger and love.  

This is a must-read, a you-have-to-read, a stop-what-you're-doing-and-read.  It's beautiful, evocative, historical, and inspirational.  So so so worth it.

Review cross-listed here!

mariahroze's review against another edition

4.0

My students LOVED this book. They didn't care for the text, but they absolutely LOVED the illustrations. Also, they obsessed over how everything was black and white except for red items. They thought this was so neat.

libraryrobin's review against another edition

4.0

A child's perspective on a Civil Rights march. Wonderful prose and gorgeous illustrations.

wordnerd153's review against another edition

4.0

Simple, yet powerful, text and gorgeous pencil illustrations recount two young girls' experiences marching with MLK, Jr.