★ 2020-05-17
An open-hearted tribute to children with immigrant parents or grandparents.
Next Monday is Grandparents Day, and Zura, a brown-skinned girl of African descent, has a problem. Though excited, Zura worries about her classmates’ responses to Nana Akua, who has facial markings—a tradition of the Akan people of Ghana that identifies their tribal family. Sometimes in public, people have made negative comments and stared. When Zura tells Nana Akua her worries at home, Nana pulls out Zura’s favorite quilt, adorned with West African Adinkra symbols, and makes a plan to help Zura’s classmates understand her facial markings. On Grandparents Day, Nana and Zura wear African dresses, and Nana explains her markings, comparing them to tattoos. She invites the children to choose an Adinkra from the quilt, each of which has a meaning (explained on the endpapers), and they and their grandparents enjoy the personal introduction to Adinkras Nana gives them. Harrison contributes spectacular collage art that surrounds Zura’s family with colors, patterns, and objects, such as an African drum, pottery, art, and black dolls, that connect them with West Africa. Harrison also illustrates a full page of Nana Akua’s face, gazing directly at readers. Her brown skin, full lips, gray eyebrows, tufts of gray hair at the edges of her head wrap, and her gorgeous purple, patterned fabrics all invite readers to see Nana Akua.
A wonderful springboard for cross-cultural understanding conveyed through deeply symbolic art. (glossary, sources, acknowledgements) (Picture book. 5-9)
Praise for Nana Akua Goes to School:
“This lovely story explores the perennial fear of being different, while showcasing the great love between a grandparent and grandchild.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“An open-hearted tribute to children with immigrant parents or grandparents.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"This beautiful picture book offers a helpful perspective on cultural differences within a heartening family story." —Booklist, starred review
"Walker writes convincingly about how difference can cause unease among children, and her story offers a compelling portrait of a grandmother whose pride and poise put that concern to rest.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Offers viewers both the comfort of the familiar and, for those unfamiliar with West African arts, a tantalizing introduction to interpreting symbols. Most importantly, this calls for readers and listeners to have faith in youngsters to embrace a new concept with an open mind and enthusiastic spirit.” —The Bulletin
“Lucky for readers and for Zura, her grandmother has a fascinating cultural tradition that, in her first book for kids, Tricia Elam Walker presents with extraordinary grace and nimbleness. . . . [An] eye-opening picture book.” —Shelf Awareness
“A picture book . . . that captures a complex vulnerability that every child feels at one point or another.” —The Wall Street Journal
Praise for April Harrison's What Is Given From the Heart:
"[An] exquisite story of generosity. . . . Harrison has created soft yet dazzling illustrations for this tribute to faith, hope, and the African-American community." —The New York Times Book Review
"A sweet story . . . enhanced by delectable art from a prodigious new talent." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"This final book by the late McKissack (Let’s Clap, Jump, Sing & Shout) showcases the legendary author’s signature lyricism in full force and receives a stunning, aesthetically ambitious interpretation by Harrison, a fine artist making her picture book debut." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"What Is Given from the Heart is a loving tribute to collective work, responsibility and the joy that comes from giving freely from the heart." —Shelf Awareness, starred review
"A treasure from a marvelous storyteller." —School Library Journal, starred review
