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megatsunami's review
3.0
My daughter loves this book about a biracial girl whose mom tells her she is an "African princess" and they go to the Caribbean to visit a relative who tells her about her ancestors. I appreciated that it dealt with some big topics and wasn't too heavy, and I liked the focus on ancestors. The "princess" thing was a big win for my child (yeah, don't get me started on the princesses... at least this is a better princess model than Disney!).
At the same time, it felt like a lot of things were too vague. For example, it is not clear if other kids tease her because she is biracial or because she is trying to have pride in being of African descent. Also, I wanted to know exactly where she goes to visit Taunte May. When I first read the book I couldn't tell if she was going to the Caribbean or to Africa (the picture where she points to the map is a little ambiguous, as one hand points to the Caribbean and one to Africa... and do they have savannahs in the Caribbean??). I felt this was confusing for my young child as I couldn't explain to her exactly where they were going.
Overall, I felt the book was sweet but the takeaway message was a little unclear.
At the same time, it felt like a lot of things were too vague. For example, it is not clear if other kids tease her because she is biracial or because she is trying to have pride in being of African descent. Also, I wanted to know exactly where she goes to visit Taunte May. When I first read the book I couldn't tell if she was going to the Caribbean or to Africa (the picture where she points to the map is a little ambiguous, as one hand points to the Caribbean and one to Africa... and do they have savannahs in the Caribbean??). I felt this was confusing for my young child as I couldn't explain to her exactly where they were going.
Overall, I felt the book was sweet but the takeaway message was a little unclear.
witchofthemountains's review
3.0
This was a very cute book with really great illustrations. But I only gave it three stars because neither of the boys I watch (or their mother) were very fond of it. I babysit for an African American family and, as we live in a state with one of the highest white populations in the country, I wanted to support the boys' sense of pride in the heritage. They found it interesting, but took issue with the lack of boys in the book (they're too young to explain how unusual that is) and their mother took issue with the idea that the book indicates all African American children are "princesses" or "princes".
As it is not my heritage I defer to her opinion on the book, though I will say that it is well written with beautiful illustrations.
As it is not my heritage I defer to her opinion on the book, though I will say that it is well written with beautiful illustrations.
mat_tobin's review
4.0
I wasn't keen on reading this and although I think the writing needs some work, the story itself and Anne Wilson's artwork is wonderful. There is a very clever interplay here between text and image and I think that this offers an engaging and fruitful discussion with children around identity and stereotypes.
The story is one in which Lyra wishes to understand her African heritage. Having heard that she is descended from a line of princesses, she is bullied at school for her pomposity and begins to question her mother's words. In order to support her, the family visit her aunt in the Caribbean and discover the truth.
What I found deeply powerful were the intrinsic statements make (or not) by Anne Wilson and her art. The bullies are both black and white and Lyra's father is white too. None of this is mentioned in the text and can lead to interesting discussions about presumptive stereotypes.
The story is one in which Lyra wishes to understand her African heritage. Having heard that she is descended from a line of princesses, she is bullied at school for her pomposity and begins to question her mother's words. In order to support her, the family visit her aunt in the Caribbean and discover the truth.
What I found deeply powerful were the intrinsic statements make (or not) by Anne Wilson and her art. The bullies are both black and white and Lyra's father is white too. None of this is mentioned in the text and can lead to interesting discussions about presumptive stereotypes.
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