In the Neighborhood

John Peters -- School Library Journal, 9/22/2008

These visits to a variety of homes and streets will invite children to check out their own nabes.

BROOKS, Gwendolyn. Bronzeville Boys and Girls. illus. by Faith Ringgold. HarperCollins/Amistad. 2007. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-029505-9; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-029506-6.

K-Gr 4–The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet first published this collection of 34 brief poems in 1956. Each one presents a different child involved in a pastime that still figures in the lives of contemporary children. Mexie and Bridie are enjoying a tea party, small Narcissa is sitting still while her imagination transforms her into an ancient queen, and Michael hopes no one will notice that he holds his mother's hand during a thunderstorm. Some of the selections, such as "Robert," are reflective: "Do you ever look in the looking-glass/And see a stranger there?/A child you know and do not know,/Wearing what you wear?" Others, such as "Otto," offer a bit of social commentary:" It's Christmas Day. I did not get/The presents that I hoped for. Yet,/It is not nice to frown or fret./To frown or fret would not be fair./My Dad must never know I care/It's hard enough for him to bear." The original illustrations were black-and-white line drawings, done by Ronni Solbert, and despite the fact that the Bronzeville area of Chicago was also known as the Black Metropolis, featured white children. Ringgold's trademark, vibrantly colored, stylized art features children of color. This book is an excellent opportunity to introduce the work of an important author to a new generation. It should be considered a first purchase for most libraries.–Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

COOPER, Elisha. A Good Night Walk. illus. by author. Scholastic/Orchard. 2005. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-68783-6.

PreS-Gr 2–"Let's go for a walk, along the block, and see what we can see...." With this opening line Cooper invites readers on a virtual evening stroll down an ordinary suburban street. On each spread, a new house or two come into view, full of interesting homey details. As the walk progresses, the sky darkens and, finally, it is time to turn back. The artist then shows each house in reverse and points out the small changes that have occurred as night has come on. The text is spare but delightfully descriptive. Cooper's watercolor illustrations are likewise simple, but with very few lines he is able to suggest considerable detail. Children will enjoy pausing to look carefully at each page especially as the sky grows dark and night animals can be seen hiding in shadows. The muted colors and horizontal format of the illustrations give the book a restful feeling and make it a good bedtime story, and the text is easy enough for beginning readers. A lovely choice.–Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT

GOLDBERG, Dana, ed. On My Block: Stories and Paintings by Fifteen Artists. Children’s Book Press. 2007. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-89239-220-9.

Gr 1-5–This anthology is the third effort by the publisher to commission a group of diverse artists to interpret a common theme. Some of the painters have chosen to create literal depictions of neighborhoods from their childhoods, while others conjure a dreamscape or a contemporary locale. From José Ramírez's baseball games on the streets of Los Angeles and Jonathan Warmday's pueblo fireside to Kim Cogan's studio in San Francisco or Elaine Pedlar's long-ago bottom bunk in Queens, NY, these paintings and descriptions are sure to inspire children to contemplate their own favorite settings. In contrast to Just Like Me (Children's Book Press, 1997), edited by Harriet Rohmer, this book is a bit over-designed. Since many of the compositions spill onto the second page of the spread, where a photograph of the artist, a caption, and the text compete for attention, the use of brackets to connect the labels to the photographs and the changing fonts and colors for the multiple headings on a page are unnecessary. Also, since a point of interest is the variety of media employed, it's unfortunate that they aren't noted. Nevertheless, the title has much to recommend it, and teachers will gain a rich resource with which to introduce the concept of place.–Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library

HARSHMAN, Marc & Barbara Garrison. Only One Neighborhood. illus. by Barbara Garrison. Dutton. 2007. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-0-525-47468-5.

K-Gr 2–This is a wonderful picture book about counting, community, and the variety of life within a neighborhood. The text on the left of each spread starts, "There may be only one bakery, but there are many kinds of bread," The facing page has a detailed picture of what's inside each establishment, such as a market, toy store, delicatessen, including items from various cultures, and offers opportunity for a lot of browsing. There are numerous concepts to be explored. Readers can count cars; name colors; describe animals, toys, and vegetables in the pictures; and discuss how all are at once the same and different. This delightful book would be best used one-to-one. The illustrations are just too detailed to share with a large group. The book ends, "In one city, there are many neighborhoods. In one country, there are many cities. In one world, there are many countries. But there is only one wish: PEACE." The pictures are collagraphs, described on the verso as a blend of collage and graphics. The technique is quite sophisticated, but it provides a soft realism. This book offers a fine discussion opportunity.–Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City

ISADORA, Rachel. Yo, Jo! illus. by author. Harcourt. 2007. RTE $16. ISBN 978-0-15-205783-1.

PreS-Gr 2–In this bright and appealing picture book, Isadora successfully uses colorful collage images to introduce an urban African-American neighborhood. Two brothers wait outside their building for their grandfather to come home for dinner. The younger boy, Jomar, wanders down the street where his friends greet him in hip-hop-style slang. Isadora depicts an active neighborhood in which kids are rollerblading, jamming to music, or just hanging out to show off their clothes and cool sneakers ("Check out the treads!"). The greetings are short, colloquial, inner-city phrases that include, "Yo, bro!," "S'up, Jomar!," "Hit me with it," "Gotta bounce," and "Yo! Chillin'!" When Grandpa comes home, he questions Jomar's use of slang and gets a proper, "I love you, Grandpa" in response. The man approves, but winks, turns to the older brother and asks, "Yo Franklin, you chillin' with us?" before they go in to dinner. The illustrations depict the reality of inner-city life including graffiti, loud music, litter, and garbage cans, but the friendly greetings and bright colors moderate the scene and create a warm, family-oriented environment. Isadora welcomes readers into Jomar's world and communicates his simple joy and acceptance in a way that is contagious. Children will respond positively to the lively depiction and warmth of his community.–Carole Phillips, Greenacres Elementary School, Scarsdale, NY

MYERS, Walter Dean. 145th Street: Short Stories. Delacorte. 2000. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-32137-2.

Gr 6 Up–Myers draws upon his experiences growing up in Harlem to create these 10 interconnected stories about a neighborhood inhabited by colorful, memorable characters. Teens figure prominently in these selections, but adults of varying ages also play dominant roles. One of the funniest characters is a fellow named Big Joe, who decides to organize his own funeral while he's still alive to enjoy it. One of the most memorable tales is "Monkeyman," in which a teen stands up to the local gang. A host of other characters come to life. These finely drawn personalities come together in the final story, the celebratory "Block Party–145th Street Style." People in the neighborhood have to put up with crime, police brutality, and poverty, but there are fun times, too. Myers gets a bit sentimental at times, especially in "A Christmas Story," but there's enough balance here among the emotions to make 145th Street a highly enjoyable short-story collection. What one comes away with after reading it is a vivid sense of place and a vibrant feeling of community.–Edward Sullivan, White Pine School, TN

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