Irene Smalls

There is something profoundly elemental going on in Smalls’s book: the capturing of a moment of unmediated joy. It’s not melodramatic, but just a Saturday in which an African-American father and son immerse themselves in each other’s company when the woman of the house is away. Putting first things first, they tidy up the house, with an unheralded sense of purpose motivating their actions: “Then we clean, clean, clean the windows,/wipe, wipe, wash them right./My dad shines in the show more windows’ light.” When their work is done, they head for the park for some batting practice, then to the movies where the boy gets to choose between films. After a snack, they work their way homeward, racing each other, doing a dance step or two, then “Dad takes my hand and slows down./I understand, and we slow down./It’s a long, long walk./We have a quiet talk and smile.” Smalls treats the material without pretense, leaving it guileless and thus accessible to readers. Hays’s artwork is wistful and idyllic, just as this day is for one small boy. (Picture book. 5-8)

-Kirkus Review show less

In this story, Dana gets into an advanced school and has to deal with rejection from her neighborhood friends and feeling out of place in her new school. In particular, the language differences of her home community and the school make her feel out of place and pulled apart. When her strict new teacher visits her at home and uses the word "ain't" to speak to her grandmother, she learns that language can be used differently in different places and that she has a place in her community and her show more school.

I was so excited to find a book that dealt with this subject! Many children and many communities struggle with the disconnect between school and home language, and it is hard to figure out how to approach this sensitive topic. I like how the book tells the story from the little girl's perspective, shows her frustration and embarrassment at school, and her relief when she learns that her teacher says "ain't," too, when she is at home. I think the book does a great job of showing how changing speech and going to an academically challenging magnet school can feel like you are abandoning your family and community, but that it doesn't have to be that way. I think many families and schools would find this book very useful, and the high quality writing and illustration give it a place in every classroom. show less

Dana lives in the tenements of Harlem and says "ain't", but her grades have earned her a spot at an advanced school. She struggles with her identity and feels she doesn't belong at the new school. She no longer feels she fits in with her neighborhood friends either. Dana shows other kids her age that there is a time and place for everything, and you can be yourself regardless of the setting you are in.

This delightful story follows a little girl and her grandmother through a day filled with tea parties, dancing, hide-and-seek, pat-a-cake, bathtime, storytime, and bedtime. Depending on who the reader or listener is, they will take various things from this story; The love between grandparents and their grandchildren, being raised by grandparents being a normal situation, a sleepover with grandma, how wonderful it is to spend time with your grandparents etc.

The story is told in simple show more language for young children to understand. My only complaint as a teacher is "Nana and Me" on the first page when gramatically it should be "Nana and I". The watercolour illustrations add warmth to the story. The expressions on the faces of both the grandmother and granddaughter are priceless, they are so real. The emotions expressed are easy to see and relate to. What a wonderful story to use as a bedtime story, for grandma and grandchild to share and talk about or to use as a reminder to spend time with your grandparents whenever you can. A great addition to a home, classroom or school library. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. show less