Small’s versatile accents and rhythms guarantee a dramatic performance; her recitation as Claudie’s mother recalling a lynching to her young daughter is exceptionally haunting.
Relative audiobook newbie and Spanish-fluent Rocha is a thoughtful narrator, subtly spotlighting Lalo’s under-the-radar maturity. Rocha attentively reads rather than performs the various characters, but his compassionate, deliberate exposition is just the calm Lalo needs to be distinctly heard.
Libraries should offer all formats to promote read-alongs: seeing images of diverse bodies (thanks to artist Tequitia Andrews’s inclusive, inviting illustrations) is undoubtedly an empowering experience for all ages.
Actor/filmmaker Hanami—whose mixed-race Japanese/white ancestry reflects Noguchi’s own heritage—provides an unhurried, crisp narration perfect for a read-along. “Alone time can be the most special time of all,” Yang reminds, and Hanami underscores—a valuable antidote, indeed, to the constant overstimulation too many children face today.
Artist Joelle Avelino’s charming illustrations make the printed book an enhancing companion to the audio; libraries should enable ready access to all formats.