A moving picture-book biography that reveals a complex personality who followed a unique path.
Activist Angela Davis’ childhood experiences shaped the trajectory of her life.
Davis grew up in segregated Birmingham, Alabama, with parents who believed that “freedom lives anywhere and everywhere it pleases,” but not all of their neighbors agreed. Many retaliated with violence (“Bombs exploded, houses rumbled”), but her parents instilled in her the possibility of change—a mindset that gave her life direction. As a college professor, she shared that vision with others, embracing viewpoints that placed her in opposition to the U.S. government. Eventually, she was incarcerated; she used her time in prison to share her perspective with her fellow inmates. Many all around the world called for her release until at last she was acquitted and freed. A prison abolitionist, she was a symbol of a world where those whose needs are unmet will be cared for. Peoples uses clear, inspiring language to relate her subject’s path to activism amid turbulent times. Readers may emerge with questions about why Davis was imprisoned; a visual essay in the backmatter offers context about Davis’ alleged involvement in the death of a prison guard, as well as her vindication. Peoples’ passion comes through; an author’s note details her personal connection to Davis’ ideals and how they still resonate. Colorful, expressionistic illustrations, rife with visual metaphor, contribute to the atmospheric storytelling.
A moving picture-book biography that reveals a complex personality who followed a unique path. (timeline) (Picture-book biography. 4-8)Pub Date: today
ISBN: 9780063206786
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: April 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
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
A brief but sweet snapshot of an inspiring girl who finds hope in song.
Through the power of music, Lucimarian Tolliver is reminded of what’s important.
Lucy is one of the only children of African descent on her block—called Lucy Street—in 1930s Akron, Ohio, but all her neighbors share one commonality: poverty. Lucy’s carefree spirit is dampened when her family’s furniture is repossessed one day. She visits her grandfather, who comforts her by singing the folk standard “This Little Light of Mine.” Grandpa tells Lucy that she’s destined for greatness and that she should never stop singing, even through life’s toughest moments. Back at home, Lucy’s father scolds her for singing at the dinner table, so she quickly finishes eating and wanders outside and sings into the night. Her voice reaches her family and neighbors, who are all touched by her song. Digital illustrations evoke the time period in muted tones, featuring endearing characters with simple yet expressive features. The visual subject matter is repetitive from page to page, as are the incorporated lyrics of “This Little Light of Mine.” Based on Lucimarian Tolliver’s experiences growing up during the Depression, the text contains an epilogue but lacks backmatter detailing historical context or more information about Lucy’s life. Though the themes of optimism and the importance of family, faith, and music shine through the text, readers may be left with more questions than answers.
A brief but sweet snapshot of an inspiring girl who finds hope in song. (Picture-book biography. 5-7)Pub Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN: 9780063222540
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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