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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
Beautifully illustrated family story with a peek into the history of Haiti. Recommended for ages 6-9.
Age: K-3rd grade
Art: Acrylic, Painter
Family: Aunt and niece
History: Haitian revolution
Identity: Haitian American protagonist, Haitian Aunt
Our Voices: Haitian American author, Dominican Canadian illustrator
Tough Issue: Revolution, mixed cultural identities
Every winter, Auntie Luce welcomes her American niece back to her home in Haiti. Affectionately called "Ti Chou," she fondly connects with Auntie Luce's paintings, especially portraits of herself that hold colors that she has never seen in a mirror. Auntie Luce explains that painting allows her "to remember what I've seen and heard and smelled and felt" including the past and present of Haitian life.
Through a loving dialogue between adult and child, Latour provides an accessible introduction to more complex issues without belittling them, including colonialism, mixed cultural identities and a feeling of being an outsider, and embracing your cultural roots. Little details about sitting still for a portrait and providing "I spy" opportunities within the artwork will help keep listeners engaged.
Art: Acrylic, Painter
Family: Aunt and niece
History: Haitian revolution
Identity: Haitian American protagonist, Haitian Aunt
Our Voices: Haitian American author, Dominican Canadian illustrator
Tough Issue: Revolution, mixed cultural identities
Every winter, Auntie Luce welcomes her American niece back to her home in Haiti. Affectionately called "Ti Chou," she fondly connects with Auntie Luce's paintings, especially portraits of herself that hold colors that she has never seen in a mirror. Auntie Luce explains that painting allows her "to remember what I've seen and heard and smelled and felt" including the past and present of Haitian life.
Through a loving dialogue between adult and child, Latour provides an accessible introduction to more complex issues without belittling them, including colonialism, mixed cultural identities and a feeling of being an outsider, and embracing your cultural roots. Little details about sitting still for a portrait and providing "I spy" opportunities within the artwork will help keep listeners engaged.
A beautiful story about a Haitian-American girl who learns about her culture through her aunt's paintings. Shows the hard truths and the beauty of Haiti.
A girl goes to visit her Aunt in Haiti and learns more about her heritage.
Rounded up because more books about Haiti are desperately needed and the beautiful, vibrant illustrations. I also enjoyed the author's note with birth stories and the similarities of America's and Haiti's birth, but how Haiti's revolution also overthrew the idea "that Blacks were somehow inferior - less human, or not human at all."
Rounded up because more books about Haiti are desperately needed and the beautiful, vibrant illustrations. I also enjoyed the author's note with birth stories and the similarities of America's and Haiti's birth, but how Haiti's revolution also overthrew the idea "that Blacks were somehow inferior - less human, or not human at all."
An immersion into Haiti, the history and the heroes.
And into the painting of portraits and landscapes and historical events that Auntie Luce witnessed.
Painted in “the darkest colors and the brightest colors, and all the colors in between.”
And into the painting of portraits and landscapes and historical events that Auntie Luce witnessed.
Painted in “the darkest colors and the brightest colors, and all the colors in between.”
This book has a lot to unpack, but it's worth it - art, history, art history, family, identity, politics, relationships, and more. It's all in there!
It's a bit wordy, but it has a lot of power as far as knowing who you are and where you came from.
It's a bit wordy, but it has a lot of power as far as knowing who you are and where you came from.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved the vibrant story, but the story seems simplistic for the multitudes it contains.