A wonderful story of a tradition as unforgettable as the fabulous titular suit.
If you can’t find what you want, make it.
Elijah, a young Black child, attends Third Avenue Church, where the two rules of Easter are “show up” and “look good.” Last year, Mother Green’s “hat the size of Saturn” earned a shoutout from Reverend White; the year before, it was Deacon Brown’s head-to-toe red getup. Hoping to be the first kid ever to earn the preacher’s Easter kudos, Elijah tries hard to find the right outfit. But nothing seems right. Mother Green and Deacon Brown tell Elijah that when laws prevented African Americans from shopping in stores, they repurposed family clothes to make new ones; knowing where “every stitch of cloth came from” made it special. Deacon Brown reminds Elijah that Easter isn’t about competition but about honoring history. Elijah goes home and gathers fabrics that hold fond memories to create his Easter suit. Jackson’s culturally rich text, which rhymes at key moments, and Boateng’s vibrant images—particularly of the textured patterned of clothing—make for a delightful and entertaining read. From character names to illustrations depicting each person with a unique physique and style, these creators’ attention to detail is notable. The backmatter explores the role of slavery and the post–Civil War era to explain why Easter ensembles have historically been so important in the Black community.
A wonderful story of a tradition as unforgettable as the fabulous titular suit. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Jan. 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780593649954
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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