An important figure; a pedestrian introduction.
Mabel Fairbanks is not found in textbooks, but she made history as the first African American inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
As the book opens, young Mabel is orphaned and homeless in New York City. Taken in by a white family, she provides child care in exchange for shelter. Looking out the apartment window at skaters in the park, she’s inspired to save up for skates, and two successive double-page spreads show the excitement and joy Mabel finds on the ice. Subsequent pages reveal that the story takes place in the 1930s, and the phrases “colored are not allowed” and “WHITES ONLY” underscore the segregation of the era. Ultimately a sympathetic rink manager lets her in, and her talent is quickly noticed—but she still can’t compete. She continues to work and train hard, her dedication paying off when she’s able to showcase her skills in a Harlem nightclub and eventually make her way to Hollywood for a TV show and then to international performances in a supporting role. Unfortunately, her talent doesn’t surpass the racism of the time, but as a coach, Mabel promotes change by encouraging her students of diverse backgrounds and advocating for them. The text does an adequate job of portraying both the racism and her determination, but readers will wonder at gaps in the timeline. Almon’s bright, cheery illustrations belie the challenges Mabel faced.
An important figure; a pedestrian introduction. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8075-3496-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: July 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
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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