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jecoats's reviews
54 reviews
Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe
4.0
I discovered this picturebook while searching for winners of the Caldecott Medal (which this book was awarded in 2019) on Goodreads. I checked out a digital copy from my local library.
Javaka Steptoe’s biographical account of Jean-Michel Basquiat is captured in this stunningly unique picturebook. The story begins with Basquiat as a young child who is fascinated by art and dreams of becoming a famous artist. Even after being involved in a car accident and facing his mother’s declining health, Basquiat still holds onto that dream. As a teen he heads to New York City where he paints the walls, signing his name - Samo. He then moves into a studio where he creates his signature artwork for all the world to enjoy, finally achieving his dream of becoming a famous artist.
The story told in Radiant Child is linear and easy to follow, even as Steptoe makes fairly large leaps in time. I wondered if this picturebook might have been better if it told the story from only a moment or two in Basquiat’s life, but Steptoe does a great job of making the reader feel like we’ve witnessed an entire person's life in a short span of time. The text is relatively minimal; each page only contains one or two sentences. Most of the text appears under the illustrations, which makes sense as Steptoe likely wanted readers to engage with the artwork before moving on to the text.
The artwork is certainly the most striking part of this book, and rightfully so. There is a wide range of textures and vivid colors on each page that were inspired by Basquiat’s own signature style of art. Some might find the pages a bit on the busy side or an overload of visual input. Others will undoubtedly delight in the liveliness of the world that Steptoe has painstakingly crafted.
While this picturebook doesn’t reflect Basquiat’s life as a Haitian/Puerto Rican man living in New York, it is nevertheless important as it showcases a famous and celebrated person of color. This would probably have a great impact on both Haitian and Puerto Rican students, as well as other students of color. I think this book might be best suited for older elementary to high school students as it has a positive message about following your dreams and about being different and unique.
Javaka Steptoe’s biographical account of Jean-Michel Basquiat is captured in this stunningly unique picturebook. The story begins with Basquiat as a young child who is fascinated by art and dreams of becoming a famous artist. Even after being involved in a car accident and facing his mother’s declining health, Basquiat still holds onto that dream. As a teen he heads to New York City where he paints the walls, signing his name - Samo. He then moves into a studio where he creates his signature artwork for all the world to enjoy, finally achieving his dream of becoming a famous artist.
The story told in Radiant Child is linear and easy to follow, even as Steptoe makes fairly large leaps in time. I wondered if this picturebook might have been better if it told the story from only a moment or two in Basquiat’s life, but Steptoe does a great job of making the reader feel like we’ve witnessed an entire person's life in a short span of time. The text is relatively minimal; each page only contains one or two sentences. Most of the text appears under the illustrations, which makes sense as Steptoe likely wanted readers to engage with the artwork before moving on to the text.
The artwork is certainly the most striking part of this book, and rightfully so. There is a wide range of textures and vivid colors on each page that were inspired by Basquiat’s own signature style of art. Some might find the pages a bit on the busy side or an overload of visual input. Others will undoubtedly delight in the liveliness of the world that Steptoe has painstakingly crafted.
While this picturebook doesn’t reflect Basquiat’s life as a Haitian/Puerto Rican man living in New York, it is nevertheless important as it showcases a famous and celebrated person of color. This would probably have a great impact on both Haitian and Puerto Rican students, as well as other students of color. I think this book might be best suited for older elementary to high school students as it has a positive message about following your dreams and about being different and unique.
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
4.0
I discovered this picturebook while searching for winners of the Caldecott Medal (which this book was awarded in 2019) on Goodreads. I checked out a digital copy from my local library.
Sophie Blackall’s Hello Lighthouse follows the story of a lone lighthouse keeper. We see his day-to-day routines, such as writing letters and fishing out the window, and we see him tend to the lighthouse. His existence is lonely, until a ship arrives one day carrying his wife. It is not before long that the two start a family and raise their daughter. Then, some years later, the coastguard installs a new automated light in the lighthouse, and the keeper and his family retire to the mainland.
I found the story told in Hello Lighthouse to be a bit on the mundane side. There are a few moments in the book that I found interesting, such as when the lighthouse keeper and his wife have to rescue a boat that crashed upon the rocks. But overall, this narrative did not hold my interest. This is, of course, just my opinion, and I still think the book has great value despite it not captivating me. However, the artwork in this book is spectacular! It has a wonderfully unique art deco style that was so captivating, I sometimes forgot to read the text on the page. Blackall’s use of shadow and light is also fantastic. She is able to communicate so much to the reader just through the tones and shades she uses in her illustrations. Her use of whites and yellows really make it seem like the lighthouse is glowing on the page.
I think young readers, maybe K - 5, who have an interest in lighthouses, boats, or the sea will really enjoy this title. It’s fun, playful depiction of these topics will undoubtedly capture their imaginations. For older readers, this book may be best used as an exemplar of excellent picturebook art design and layout.
Sophie Blackall’s Hello Lighthouse follows the story of a lone lighthouse keeper. We see his day-to-day routines, such as writing letters and fishing out the window, and we see him tend to the lighthouse. His existence is lonely, until a ship arrives one day carrying his wife. It is not before long that the two start a family and raise their daughter. Then, some years later, the coastguard installs a new automated light in the lighthouse, and the keeper and his family retire to the mainland.
I found the story told in Hello Lighthouse to be a bit on the mundane side. There are a few moments in the book that I found interesting, such as when the lighthouse keeper and his wife have to rescue a boat that crashed upon the rocks. But overall, this narrative did not hold my interest. This is, of course, just my opinion, and I still think the book has great value despite it not captivating me. However, the artwork in this book is spectacular! It has a wonderfully unique art deco style that was so captivating, I sometimes forgot to read the text on the page. Blackall’s use of shadow and light is also fantastic. She is able to communicate so much to the reader just through the tones and shades she uses in her illustrations. Her use of whites and yellows really make it seem like the lighthouse is glowing on the page.
I think young readers, maybe K - 5, who have an interest in lighthouses, boats, or the sea will really enjoy this title. It’s fun, playful depiction of these topics will undoubtedly capture their imaginations. For older readers, this book may be best used as an exemplar of excellent picturebook art design and layout.
Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
5.0
My wife - an educator in Highland Park - had recently purchased this graphic novel, so I decided to search Goodreads for any awards it may have won. I was happy to discover that it was the 2023 recipient of the Pura Belpré Award, which is presented to a Latinx writer whose work best celebrates the authentic Latinx cultural experience.
The book focuses on Marlene, a young girl trying to navigate the “typical” adolescent concerns of middle school, friends, and family. However, it seems something is making her life even more difficult: her frizzy locks of curly hair. Marlene’s mother takes her to the salon nearly every week so Marlene can have straighter hair and be more accepted by society. Marlene feels caught between two conflicting ideologies: be yourself or be the presentable young lady your family and others want you to be. Marlene simply wants others to look past what they perceive as an imperfection and embrace her for who she is. Eventually, with the help of her Tía Ruby, Marlene figures out how to properly care for her hair, and how to properly care for and accept herself as well.
The graphic novel has a simple plot and structure. There are only 14 major scenes that drive the story across 213 pages. But this is to the book's benefit. In telling a simple story, author Claribel A. Ortega is able to pack a lot of emotion into each page. We really get to know Marlene, her mother, Tía Ruby, and Marlene’s best friend, Camilla. The emotions and conflicts presented in the story feel genuine and authentic - Marlene feels like a real young middle school student dealing with bullies, feelings of jealousy and outrage, and a mother that wants her to fit in with society's ideals of beauty and behavior. When Marlene cries, we feel her sadness. When she discovers she can manage her frizzy hair, we feel her joy and excitement.
The art by Rose Bousamra is gorgeous. She uses a very soft palette filled with brown and red tones, as well as a lot of pink and lavender shades. This color palette creates an almost dream-like quality, which helps elevate a few of the graphic novel’s more fantastical moments where we see Marlene imagining herself as a famous singer or a superhero. Outside of those fantasy moments, the artwork also helps ground the book in reality as the characters are well designed, and the overall style of the illustrations stay consistent throughout the book. Bousamra also does a masterful job demonstrating the different characters' ages through her designs. She doesn’t take to creating over exaggerations or caricatures of older characters (or younger characters), and instead uses subtle lines and accents to create characters that are distinguishable from one another.
Frizzy would be an excellent title for both middle and high school students because the universal themes of the story would resonate with most pre-teens and teenagers. The story would be a wonderful mirror for our Latinx and female students as well as Marlene is a delightful protagonist (one of my favorite literary protagonists to date, in fact). The conflict depicted in Frizzy felt authentic (to this middle aged white cis man), and the dialogue seems genuine and fits the narrative. I also think that Frizzy would help students from the dominant culture develop a better understanding of their Latinx female peers and the issues they face as members of their community. Frizzy is also just a flat-out joy to read and contains genuinely humorous and touching moments.
The book focuses on Marlene, a young girl trying to navigate the “typical” adolescent concerns of middle school, friends, and family. However, it seems something is making her life even more difficult: her frizzy locks of curly hair. Marlene’s mother takes her to the salon nearly every week so Marlene can have straighter hair and be more accepted by society. Marlene feels caught between two conflicting ideologies: be yourself or be the presentable young lady your family and others want you to be. Marlene simply wants others to look past what they perceive as an imperfection and embrace her for who she is. Eventually, with the help of her Tía Ruby, Marlene figures out how to properly care for her hair, and how to properly care for and accept herself as well.
The graphic novel has a simple plot and structure. There are only 14 major scenes that drive the story across 213 pages. But this is to the book's benefit. In telling a simple story, author Claribel A. Ortega is able to pack a lot of emotion into each page. We really get to know Marlene, her mother, Tía Ruby, and Marlene’s best friend, Camilla. The emotions and conflicts presented in the story feel genuine and authentic - Marlene feels like a real young middle school student dealing with bullies, feelings of jealousy and outrage, and a mother that wants her to fit in with society's ideals of beauty and behavior. When Marlene cries, we feel her sadness. When she discovers she can manage her frizzy hair, we feel her joy and excitement.
The art by Rose Bousamra is gorgeous. She uses a very soft palette filled with brown and red tones, as well as a lot of pink and lavender shades. This color palette creates an almost dream-like quality, which helps elevate a few of the graphic novel’s more fantastical moments where we see Marlene imagining herself as a famous singer or a superhero. Outside of those fantasy moments, the artwork also helps ground the book in reality as the characters are well designed, and the overall style of the illustrations stay consistent throughout the book. Bousamra also does a masterful job demonstrating the different characters' ages through her designs. She doesn’t take to creating over exaggerations or caricatures of older characters (or younger characters), and instead uses subtle lines and accents to create characters that are distinguishable from one another.
Frizzy would be an excellent title for both middle and high school students because the universal themes of the story would resonate with most pre-teens and teenagers. The story would be a wonderful mirror for our Latinx and female students as well as Marlene is a delightful protagonist (one of my favorite literary protagonists to date, in fact). The conflict depicted in Frizzy felt authentic (to this middle aged white cis man), and the dialogue seems genuine and fits the narrative. I also think that Frizzy would help students from the dominant culture develop a better understanding of their Latinx female peers and the issues they face as members of their community. Frizzy is also just a flat-out joy to read and contains genuinely humorous and touching moments.
Don't Touch My Hair! by Sharee Miller
4.0
Sharee Miller’s picturebook, Don’t Touch My Hair!, may not have won any awards (at least that I am aware of), but it has been recommended to me by several educators, some of whom were classmates of mine at National Louis. I read a digital version on the Chicago Public Library website.
The story follows little Aria, a young girl who loves her soft, curly, and bouncy locks. However, her beautiful head of hair seems to come with a strange consequence - everyone else, including a giant purple dragon and little green aliens, wants to touch her hair. Aria tries to escape the unwanted invasion of her personal space but finds that being away from others makes her lonely. Finally, Aria learns how to say “no” and learns how to articulate her needs as people around her learn the importance of asking permission.
Don’t Touch My Hair! feels like a short read, even at 32 pages. I believe this is due to the frequent use of two panel illustrations and the lack of text on the page. The lack of text is not a negative aspect, and actually makes the story feel focused and concise. It also lets Miller’s illustrations do a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of telling the story. Some of the text almost feels like a caption, offering the reader a bit of context for what they are seeing. The illustrations are very strong and manage to capture the emotion being expressed in every scene. What I loved most about the illustrations is that there is a cohesion in character design. Things like color choice and facial features don’t shift page to page. Miller instead keeps everything, especially the design for Aria, consistent throughout the book. Each illustration feels like it belongs in the wonderful world Miller has crafted.
Because of the simple sentences and basic construction of the story, I think this book would be best suited for younger readers - perhaps 1st to 3rd grade. However, the relevance of the topic (black and people of color’s hair) would make this a great text to use for middle grade students as the picturebook could be used to discuss issues associated with how society views the hair of marginalized people. This book would make a great mirror for black students (as well as other BIPOC students) as it touches on the issues our students may face, such as standards of beauty and how non BIPOC individuals react to black hair. It may also act as a window for others, revealing these issues to those unfamiliar with them and teaching a valuable lesson about personal space.
(I’m adding a link to a YouTube video of the picturebook for anyone interested in using this in their own classroom - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OItfXaBoCb4)
The story follows little Aria, a young girl who loves her soft, curly, and bouncy locks. However, her beautiful head of hair seems to come with a strange consequence - everyone else, including a giant purple dragon and little green aliens, wants to touch her hair. Aria tries to escape the unwanted invasion of her personal space but finds that being away from others makes her lonely. Finally, Aria learns how to say “no” and learns how to articulate her needs as people around her learn the importance of asking permission.
Don’t Touch My Hair! feels like a short read, even at 32 pages. I believe this is due to the frequent use of two panel illustrations and the lack of text on the page. The lack of text is not a negative aspect, and actually makes the story feel focused and concise. It also lets Miller’s illustrations do a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of telling the story. Some of the text almost feels like a caption, offering the reader a bit of context for what they are seeing. The illustrations are very strong and manage to capture the emotion being expressed in every scene. What I loved most about the illustrations is that there is a cohesion in character design. Things like color choice and facial features don’t shift page to page. Miller instead keeps everything, especially the design for Aria, consistent throughout the book. Each illustration feels like it belongs in the wonderful world Miller has crafted.
Because of the simple sentences and basic construction of the story, I think this book would be best suited for younger readers - perhaps 1st to 3rd grade. However, the relevance of the topic (black and people of color’s hair) would make this a great text to use for middle grade students as the picturebook could be used to discuss issues associated with how society views the hair of marginalized people. This book would make a great mirror for black students (as well as other BIPOC students) as it touches on the issues our students may face, such as standards of beauty and how non BIPOC individuals react to black hair. It may also act as a window for others, revealing these issues to those unfamiliar with them and teaching a valuable lesson about personal space.
(I’m adding a link to a YouTube video of the picturebook for anyone interested in using this in their own classroom - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OItfXaBoCb4)
Bips and Roses: Zoey and Sassafras #8 by Asia Citro
5.0
I read the first book in this series, as well as the last book in the series (I'll be focusing on the last book for my review). I found this book while exploring Dr. Quiroa’s fantasy/sci-fi shelf on Goodreads. The first book won the Washington State Book Award for Books for Young Readers (ages 6-8). This most current title has not yet won or been nominated for any awards.
These books follow Zoey, a bright young girl, and her cat Sassafras as they help the magical animals that live in the forest near her home. They come to her barn and ring a magic doorbell that only Zoey and her mother can hear. Zoey then has to figure out how to help the creatures (many of them can’t speak our language!) using a series of science experiments that she and her mother come up with. In Bips and Roses, a mysterious swarm of bugs have eaten all the “bips” - an algae-like organism - off the magical roses that baby hippogriphs need in order to survive. Without the bips, the roses cannot grow. As soon as Zoey learns of this, she springs into action, conducting experiments to figure out how to make the bips multiply so there are plenty of roses in time for the hatching of the baby hippogriphs.
I did very much enjoy these stories - they are lighthearted and whimsical, which helps break up my weekly reading as some of what I consume is more serious in tone. Zoey and Sassafras are a fun pair, and it’s hard not to like them as they attempt to solve the various mysteries surrounding the magical creatures they help. The reader always knows (SPOILER!) that Zoey and Sassafras will solve the case, but that is part of the book's charm. We, the reader, want her to succeed because we know how much she cares about being a good, helpful person.
The book is a mix of both fantasy and science fiction. The magical creatures, such as dragons and talking frogs, make up the fantasy aspect. Zoey using various scientific experiments in order to solve a problem afflicting the creatures of the forest is the science fiction aspect. In Bips and Roses, for instance, Zoey develops a hypothesis about what might help the bips grow. She then collects the bips, exposes them to various stimuli - such as various amounts of heat and moisture - and records her data, just like a scientist from the real world. To be fair, CBCH does imply on page 226 that a science fiction book should contain story elements that could be plausible in our world. The experiments Zoey conducts could therefore be considered pure fantasy as they are predicated on the magical nature of the creatures she encounters. Said another way, the experiments she conducts could never happen in our world. However, I would maintain that the scientific methodology Zoey employs makes the series a hybrid fantasy/sci-fi genre (not necessarily science fantasy, as I think the two elements are presented as very distinct as separate from each other), and gives the books some “credibility” as they do reflect the kind of “real” science someone might actually employ if they encountered magical animals.
I do have one major complaint about the book - Zoey is depicted as a person of color, but the series is written and illustrated by two people, who as far as I can find, are both white. This becomes startling apparent when the reader realizes that Zoey could be any race or ethnicity and that her cultural background does not play a role in the story. To be sure, I have only read two of the six books in the series. But never once was her culture a part of the story (except for maybe the night cap she wears to bed to maintain her curly locks - but even that feels like it's based on the character’s aesthetics and not an integrated cultural aspect of Zoey’s character). If it were not for the fact that the illustrations present Zoey as a person of color, my implicit bias would have led me to believe that she was white. Now, I think it’s great that the series features a main character of color. However, it is apparent that the series is written from an outsider's perspective, and lacks the authenticity of books like the Planet Omar series, Swim Team, and King and the Dragonflies.
That said, I would recommend these books for younger readers in the 3rd to 6th grade range. I think they would find the amusing and lighthearted nature of the books fun and engaging.
These books follow Zoey, a bright young girl, and her cat Sassafras as they help the magical animals that live in the forest near her home. They come to her barn and ring a magic doorbell that only Zoey and her mother can hear. Zoey then has to figure out how to help the creatures (many of them can’t speak our language!) using a series of science experiments that she and her mother come up with. In Bips and Roses, a mysterious swarm of bugs have eaten all the “bips” - an algae-like organism - off the magical roses that baby hippogriphs need in order to survive. Without the bips, the roses cannot grow. As soon as Zoey learns of this, she springs into action, conducting experiments to figure out how to make the bips multiply so there are plenty of roses in time for the hatching of the baby hippogriphs.
I did very much enjoy these stories - they are lighthearted and whimsical, which helps break up my weekly reading as some of what I consume is more serious in tone. Zoey and Sassafras are a fun pair, and it’s hard not to like them as they attempt to solve the various mysteries surrounding the magical creatures they help. The reader always knows (SPOILER!) that Zoey and Sassafras will solve the case, but that is part of the book's charm. We, the reader, want her to succeed because we know how much she cares about being a good, helpful person.
The book is a mix of both fantasy and science fiction. The magical creatures, such as dragons and talking frogs, make up the fantasy aspect. Zoey using various scientific experiments in order to solve a problem afflicting the creatures of the forest is the science fiction aspect. In Bips and Roses, for instance, Zoey develops a hypothesis about what might help the bips grow. She then collects the bips, exposes them to various stimuli - such as various amounts of heat and moisture - and records her data, just like a scientist from the real world. To be fair, CBCH does imply on page 226 that a science fiction book should contain story elements that could be plausible in our world. The experiments Zoey conducts could therefore be considered pure fantasy as they are predicated on the magical nature of the creatures she encounters. Said another way, the experiments she conducts could never happen in our world. However, I would maintain that the scientific methodology Zoey employs makes the series a hybrid fantasy/sci-fi genre (not necessarily science fantasy, as I think the two elements are presented as very distinct as separate from each other), and gives the books some “credibility” as they do reflect the kind of “real” science someone might actually employ if they encountered magical animals.
I do have one major complaint about the book - Zoey is depicted as a person of color, but the series is written and illustrated by two people, who as far as I can find, are both white. This becomes startling apparent when the reader realizes that Zoey could be any race or ethnicity and that her cultural background does not play a role in the story. To be sure, I have only read two of the six books in the series. But never once was her culture a part of the story (except for maybe the night cap she wears to bed to maintain her curly locks - but even that feels like it's based on the character’s aesthetics and not an integrated cultural aspect of Zoey’s character). If it were not for the fact that the illustrations present Zoey as a person of color, my implicit bias would have led me to believe that she was white. Now, I think it’s great that the series features a main character of color. However, it is apparent that the series is written from an outsider's perspective, and lacks the authenticity of books like the Planet Omar series, Swim Team, and King and the Dragonflies.
That said, I would recommend these books for younger readers in the 3rd to 6th grade range. I think they would find the amusing and lighthearted nature of the books fun and engaging.
Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro
4.0
See my review for Bips and Roses for my thoughts on the Zoey and Sassafras series.
Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo
5.0
While I was at the library looking for sci-fi and fantasy titles, I saw this picturebook adaptation of Beowulf on the shelf. I love the original text and wanted to see how the adaptation fared. It is surprisingly faithful to the source material, although retold in modern English so it can be understood by younger readers. It follows the adventures of Beowulf as he first helps King Heorot to defeat Grendel, a monster that has been terrorizing Heorot’s kingdom. Upon slaying Grendel, Beowulf then seeks out and destroys Grendel's fearsome mother. Finally, after becoming a king himself, Beowulf hunts down a dragon that has stolen riches from Beowulf’s burial mound. Accompanied by his nephew Wiglaf, they engage and kill the dragon, (SPOILERS!) but Beowulf also dies, succumbing to his wounds.
The picturebook is a marvel of fantasy storytelling and illustration. I think this book would be best suited for 5th/6th graders and up. I think even adults would get a lot out of this picturebook as the original epic is quite dense, demanding a close reading to unpack the story and its meaning. The retelling of the epic is handled masterfully, capturing all the action - as well as the historical significance - of the original.
The artwork is what really drew me in. Although published in 2006, the illustrations by Michael Foreman were reminiscent of 70s and 80s styles of fantasy artists such as Frank Franzetta, Joe Jusko, and Joe Kubert. The art style fits text, depicting heroes and creatures from an ancient era. The art and text also work well to create a unified, concise narrative which helps the reader visualize the characters and action.
For teachers planning to use the original Beowulf in their classes, this short picturebook could be a great prereading text or companion piece to scaffold the epic poem. It could even be used with younger readers as a way to introduce them to classic literature. As mentioned above, even adults could get a lot out of this book as it is a faithful retelling of the source material, but told in a way that is easier to comprehend without having to perform a close reading.
The picturebook is a marvel of fantasy storytelling and illustration. I think this book would be best suited for 5th/6th graders and up. I think even adults would get a lot out of this picturebook as the original epic is quite dense, demanding a close reading to unpack the story and its meaning. The retelling of the epic is handled masterfully, capturing all the action - as well as the historical significance - of the original.
The artwork is what really drew me in. Although published in 2006, the illustrations by Michael Foreman were reminiscent of 70s and 80s styles of fantasy artists such as Frank Franzetta, Joe Jusko, and Joe Kubert. The art style fits text, depicting heroes and creatures from an ancient era. The art and text also work well to create a unified, concise narrative which helps the reader visualize the characters and action.
For teachers planning to use the original Beowulf in their classes, this short picturebook could be a great prereading text or companion piece to scaffold the epic poem. It could even be used with younger readers as a way to introduce them to classic literature. As mentioned above, even adults could get a lot out of this book as it is a faithful retelling of the source material, but told in a way that is easier to comprehend without having to perform a close reading.
Federico and the Wolf by Rebecca J. Gomez
5.0
I found this book while browsing for Little Red Riding Hood texts on the Chicago Public Library website. I checked out a digital copy of the book.
The story follows Federico's journey as he goes to the market to pick up ingredients to make the perfect pico. Once Federico has acquired the ingredients, he journeys through the woods to his Abuelo's shop, but is stopped by a hungry lobo looking for food. Federico ignores the lobo, and rushes off to his Abuelo's shop. But the lobo beats him there, and disguised as Federico's Abuelo, attempts to make a meal out of the young boy.
This was a delightful retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Other than a few minor changes, such as the logo locking up the Abuelo character instead of eating them whole, Federico and the Wolf follows the original tale pretty closely. I really enjoyed how the book used the Spanish words for Grandfather (Abuelo) and wolf (lobo), as well as others peppered throughout the narrative. This could be useful in classes with both EL students and native English speakers who are learning Spanish. The book even includes a recipe for pico at the end, which is a really beautiful touch. The artwork is very lovely - Elisa Chavarri uses a lot of bright colors and action scenes to make the story jump off the page. She also uses a lot of white space, which I think helps the reader really focus on the character designs (which are fantastic).
I don't think this book has much function as a window or a sliding glass door. I do think it gives us as authentic of a Latinx depiction as it can, but the story rushes along quite fast, and we never really linger with any of the cultural elements for too long. I do think it could be an effective mirror for Latinx students, especially considering so much of the traditional literature retellings I found depicted mostly white people. For our Latinx students, this picturebook would help them see themselves as the hero in a fairytale.
The story follows Federico's journey as he goes to the market to pick up ingredients to make the perfect pico. Once Federico has acquired the ingredients, he journeys through the woods to his Abuelo's shop, but is stopped by a hungry lobo looking for food. Federico ignores the lobo, and rushes off to his Abuelo's shop. But the lobo beats him there, and disguised as Federico's Abuelo, attempts to make a meal out of the young boy.
This was a delightful retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Other than a few minor changes, such as the logo locking up the Abuelo character instead of eating them whole, Federico and the Wolf follows the original tale pretty closely. I really enjoyed how the book used the Spanish words for Grandfather (Abuelo) and wolf (lobo), as well as others peppered throughout the narrative. This could be useful in classes with both EL students and native English speakers who are learning Spanish. The book even includes a recipe for pico at the end, which is a really beautiful touch. The artwork is very lovely - Elisa Chavarri uses a lot of bright colors and action scenes to make the story jump off the page. She also uses a lot of white space, which I think helps the reader really focus on the character designs (which are fantastic).
I don't think this book has much function as a window or a sliding glass door. I do think it gives us as authentic of a Latinx depiction as it can, but the story rushes along quite fast, and we never really linger with any of the cultural elements for too long. I do think it could be an effective mirror for Latinx students, especially considering so much of the traditional literature retellings I found depicted mostly white people. For our Latinx students, this picturebook would help them see themselves as the hero in a fairytale.