An unusual perspective on women’s rights and an engaging tribute to Rosie the Riveter and all she represents.
“Rosie the Riveter was born all grown up in 1942.”
From World War II to the present, the iconic image of Rosie the Riveter has grown into a powerful feminist symbol of resilience and equality. This positive and inclusive selection (trans women activists Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson are identifiable in the illustrations, and other women of color and disabled women are present in multiple spreads) traces Rosie’s development, explaining how strong women of all races, portrayed in the retro illustrations that reference the original posters, existed before and since her creation and how she came to represent their efforts for equality as well as their strength and power. The connection between Rosie as an image and the women she represents is somewhat subtle; the poetic text stops short of explicitly explaining that the initial Rosie was an image to inspire and foster acceptance of working women, so some children may require more explanation. Fact-filled endnotes include the inspiration for Rosie and detail women’s work experiences, past and present, in language that isn’t always child friendly but will help adults provide context. Unique in its multifaceted focus on social justice, human rights, art, symbols, and women’s history—famous women appear in the endpapers and throughout the illustrations—this informative selection will certainly fuel interest and impart inspiration. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An unusual perspective on women’s rights and an engaging tribute to Rosie the Riveter and all she represents. (Informational picture book. 5-10)Pub Date: Sept. 21, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-77450-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Imprint
Review Posted Online: Aug. 10, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
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
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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