FISHING DAY

Reenie and her mom are having fun and great success while fishing in Jim Crow River, while Peter and his father are fishing for food and have nothing to show for it. Distanced by race and by fear of change, Reenie and Peter watch each other surreptitiously, but are firmly kept from interacting by their parents. When Peter is left alone for a few moments, Reenie takes the opportunity to help him. The next time they see each other, they manage a small wave. Told in the present tense, the style will enable the modern-day reader to feel the constrictions of segregation’s rules of conduct. In an afterword, Pinkney explains the role of prejudice in her own life and the wish to reach beyond boundaries. Evans’s illustrations get to the core of the story. As a stylized river runs through the pages, he clearly depicts the events as well as the characters’ feelings. A gentle tale with a big punch. (Picture book. 7-10)