Kids can make a difference, which Lola proves with gusto.
“¡Si se puede!”
A day in the life of a young Dolores Huerta is imagined in this story of activism. Lola helps Mama run the Hotel Delano. She delivers fresh towels, washes windows, and sets the dinner table—the only thing she can’t seem to do is stop talking! Her grandfather calls her “Lolita Siete Lenguas” (“Little Lola, Seven Tongues, all fighting to be heard”) and tells her, “For now, you must be quiet” but adds, “Sometimes one strong voice is just what we need.” When Lola, looking out her window, spots a woman and a girl getting kicked off the cable car for being unable to pay, she knows she must act. Remembering her mother’s admonition to fix a problem when it arises rather than pretending it isn't there, she races downstairs to welcome them into the hotel. Lola grows up to be a tireless advocate for farmworkers’ rights and uses her “seven tongues” to fight for social justice causes. This uncomplicated story will encourage readers to speak up when they see someone in need. Warm illustrations give characters—depicted in various shades of brown—a friendly tone. In an author’s note, Torres explains that while this incident was imagined, the story is inspired by Huerta’s childhood; Torres also provides details of Huerta’s iconic labor organizing work. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Kids can make a difference, which Lola proves with gusto. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Aug. 9, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-53012-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
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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