Reading Matters Winter 2019

Predators, Party Gowns, and Photographers: A Children’s Literature Review Column for Teachers

By Jonda C. McNair, with Clemson University students: Sarah Cook, Ellie Corbin, Madison Gardner, Hanna Gibson, Madeleine Kennedy, Olivia Loynes, Carlie Moseley, Charlotte Neidenbach, Audrey Rick, Evie Rogers, Caitlyn Smoldt & Estefania Wilt

“Part II: In Your Shoes” is dedicated to works that mimic the feelings and themes of favorite poets, and “Part III: Thank You” contains poetry that simply responds with gratitude to others poets whose words sparked intimate and profound effects on the poets in this section. At the end of the book are biographies of all of the poets featured in this book. Each poem is creatively complemented by a mixed-media, collage- style work of art. This book could be implemented at various levels—intermediate or young adult—to spark a love for poetry of all kinds, such as haiku, couplets, and free verse. One only needs to read, listen, and wonder—and maybe grab a pencil. Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut Barnes, Derrick. (2017). Illus. by Gordon C. James. Unpaged. Bolden. 978-1-572- 84224-3 $17.95 (Primary/Intermediate). —by Caitlyn Smoldt “A fresh cut makes boys fly.” Crown:

This column features a range of books for readers in grades K–12 about a variety of topics, from apex predators, to the fancy party gowns created by unsung fashion designer Ann Cole Lowe, to Dorothea Lange, who photographed the well- known image titled “Migrant Mother.”There are also numerous genres, such as fantasy, historical fiction, informational text, biography, and poetry, by authors and illustrators across racially diverse backgrounds. I am pleased to have written this column with Clemson University undergraduate students who participated in Creative Inquiry projects with me. Please feel to contact me with any questions or feedback about the column at jmcnair@clemson.edu . I look forward to hearing from you. Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets Alexander, Kwame, with Colderley, Chris, &Wentworth, Marjory. (2017). Illus. by Ekua Holmes. 40 pp. Candlewick. 978-0-7636-8094-7. $16.99 (Intermediate/Young Adult). —by EstefaniaWilt “A poem is a small but powerful thing. It has the power to reach inside of you, to ignite something in you, and to change you in ways you never imagined” (Preface). This book is a moving compilation of original poems that pay homage to 20 renowned, racially diverse poets (e.g., Gwendolyn Brooks, Rumi, Chief Dan George, Sandra Cisneros, William Carlos Williams, Langston Hughes, Billy Collins), reflecting a range of time periods going back as far as the 13th century. The collection is divided into three sections: “Part I: Got Style?”“Part II: In Your Shoes,” and “Part III: Thank You.”“Part I: Got Style?” highlights six different poets who made “up their own rules about writing” (p. 1). For example, “How to Write a Poem” is written in the fluid yet staccato style typical of Naomi Shihab Nye:

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An Ode to the Fresh Cut captures the spirit of barbershops and celebrates the beautiful humanity and transformative power of getting a new haircut. Derrick Barnes uses rich figurative language to describe the feelings created by a trip to the barber. For example,“You came in as a lump of clay, a blank canvas, a slab of marble. But when my man is done

with you, they’ll want to post you up in a museum!”The energetic text, paired with vivid illustrations by Gordon C. James, transforms a seemingly ordinary event into an artfully poetic experience. A young boy steps into the Heads Up barbershop and is instantly treated like royalty. His barber gives him a cut that he wears like a proverbial crown, and it gives him the power to possibly ace a geography exam, catch the attention of the cute girl in class, and “leave out of ‘the shop,’every single time, feeling the exact same way...Magnificent. Flawless. Like royalty.”The boy also sees other men given transformative cuts that make them look fresh, presidential, and important. The oil paintings balance perfectly with the colorful, rhythmic text. There is a combination of single- and double-page illustrations, with a powerful vertical double spread toward the end. The vibrant illustrations are full bleed throughout. The perspective of each painting shows men with their heads held high with confidence and swagger. The bright yellow endpapers enhance the feel-good essence of the story. Finally, Barnes’s powerful afterword proves that his book is about much more than just a haircut. It is about a cultural experience that produces dignity, confidence, and empowerment. Crown is the epitome of Black boy joy and proves to our young men of color that they matter and that they have a place in children’s literature. This book is important and so desperately needed.

Hush.

Grab a pencil some paper spunk.

Let loose your heart— raise your voice.

What if I have many voices?

Let them dance together twist and turn like best friends in a maze till you find your way to that one true word (or two). (p. 3)

| 44 | Reading Matters | Volume 19 • Winter 2019 | scira.org

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