  | My block looks like Author: Harper, Janelle | |
| Price: $23.78 | ||
Summary:
A lyrical picture book that recognizes the beauty of the bodegas, subways, and playgrounds that characterize everyday life in the Bronx and pays homage to the ways that its residents have shaped pop culture through music, visual art, and dance.
| Illustrator: | Morrison, Frank |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (11/15/23)
School Library Journal (00/01/24)
Booklist (01/17/24)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/12/23)
The Hornbook (+) (00/03/24)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 01/01/2024 K-Gr 3—A proud celebration of the streets of the Bronx and the people who live there. The main character, a brown-skinned girl with dark hair, dances and leaps through the streets calling out the things she loves about her neighborhood. Using the refrain "My block looks like," she highlights the sounds, the sights, and the energy of her streets. Morrison paints vibrant spreads with details of the buildings, people, graffiti, and spirit of the Bronx. The poetic text reads like a song and makes for a perfect read-aloud story. While many readers might not be familiar with the streets depicted in the book, they can compare their own neighborhoods and find what they have in common as well as what makes their streets unique. VERDICT A positive and uplifting book that can be appreciated by all readers, no matter where they live.—Heidi Dechief - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 01/17/2024 This love letter to growing up in the Bronx pays homage to the resilient community spirit of this NYC borough. Told through Morrison’s gorgeous paintings, a series of vignettes follows the main character’s adventures as they share their favorite neighborhood spots. From subway breakdancing to hanging out with friends on bustling playgrounds to eagerly awaiting delicious summer treats, the best of the Bronx is shared through onomatopoeia-filled lyrical stanzas and a joyful melting pot of young faces. The illustrations capture the fluid movement as the protagonist literally dances through graffiti-art-adorned streets, busy basketball courts, and a concrete jungle that proves warm and welcoming—inspired by Harper’s own experiences as an educator and dance teacher. As the character leaves their dance studio, they note that their neighborhood is so much more than people’s assumptions or stereotypes. Perhaps most poignant is the book’s message that no matter where one goes, their block in the Bronx will always be with them, and it will always be “the coolest place [they’ve] ever been.” - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
