A vibrant homage to a celebrated athlete, her supportive community, and Indigenous resilience.
A Rarámuri runner’s strength and pride in her roots lead the way to triumph.
In 2017, Lorena Ramírez won the Ultra Trail Cerro Rojo, a 31-mile race. Since then, she’s won races all over the world, including ultramarathons that are more than 60 miles long. Running is an integral part of her heritage; Medina explains that the very word “Rarámuri” means “the light-footed people” or “those who run fast” and that the Rarámuri—Indigenous people who live in Chihuahua, Mexico—are known for their great endurance. Medina follows Lorena as she runs day and night across rugged terrain, against “hundreds from other countries.” She stands out because of her huaraches, which are “cut from rubber tires,” and her home-sewn skirt. Unlike the other athletes, Ramírez competes “without fancy gear or gadgets.” Swirling images of animals, flowers, and family members appear in the background, highlighting the grit and fire that fuel Lorena. When the dark-haired, brown-skinned runner crosses the finish line ahead of her competitors, her family is there to cheer her on, among her many fans. This tale of endurance, ancestral pride, and remarkable athleticism culminates in backmatter about Ramírez that provides more context for her accomplishments and information about her Rarámuri heritage. Brought to life by vivid illustrations and reverent, energetic prose, Ramírez’s story will delight readers.
A vibrant homage to a celebrated athlete, her supportive community, and Indigenous resilience. (Informational picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 11, 2024
ISBN: 9781665931427
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2024
A supplemental rather than introductory book on the great artist.
Frida Kahlo’s strong affection for and identification with animals form the lens through which readers view her life and work in this picture-book biography.
Each two-page spread introduces one or more of her pets, comparing her characteristics to theirs and adding biographical details. Confusingly for young readers, the beginning pages reference pets she owned as an adult, yet the illustrations and events referred to come from earlier in her life. Bonito the parrot perches in a tree overlooking young Frida and her family in her childhood home and pops up again later, just before the first mention of Diego Rivera. Granizo, the fawn, another pet from her adult years, is pictured beside a young Frida and her father along with a description of “her life as a little girl.” The author’s note adds important details about Kahlo’s life and her significance as an artist, as well as recommending specific paintings that feature her beloved animals. Expressive acrylic paintings expertly evoke Kahlo’s style and color palette. While young animal lovers will identify with her attachment to her pets and may enjoy learning about the Aztec origins of her Xolo dogs and the meaning of turkeys in ancient Mexico, the book may be of most interest to those who already have an interest in Kahlo’s life.
A supplemental rather than introductory book on the great artist. (Picture book/biography. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4269-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: NorthSouth
Review Posted Online: June 18, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Blandly inspirational fare made to evoke equally shrink-wrapped responses.
An NBA star pays tribute to the influence of his grandfather.
In the same vein as his Long Shot (2009), illustrated by Frank Morrison, this latest from Paul prioritizes values and character: “My granddad Papa Chilly had dreams that came true,” he writes, “so maybe if I listen and watch him, / mine will too.” So it is that the wide-eyed Black child in the simply drawn illustrations rises early to get to the playground hoops before anyone else, watches his elder working hard and respecting others, hears him cheering along with the rest of the family from the stands during games, and recalls in a prose afterword that his grandfather wasn’t one to lecture but taught by example. Paul mentions in both the text and the backmatter that Papa Chilly was the first African American to own a service station in North Carolina (his presumed dream) but not that he was killed in a robbery, which has the effect of keeping the overall tone positive and the instructional content one-dimensional. Figures in the pictures are mostly dark-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Blandly inspirational fare made to evoke equally shrink-wrapped responses. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-81003-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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