Publishers Weekly
★ 10/30/2023
“The hustle and bustle/ the heartbeat of the city/ the quick, the slick, the grit, the wit/ the coolest place I’ve ever been.” Employing the refrain “my block looks like,” debut author Harper embodies the demeanor of this picture book’s charismatic protagonist, a child with dark brown skin and an Afro, as they travel through the Bronx. Along the way, they watch “fancy footwork and death-defying stunts” on the subway, engage with art that “soars across the world,” and encounter “brilliant minds/ politicking and debating” life’s great mysteries: top emcee, best rap record, and more. Their ever-present bubblegum popping, the protagonist heads to a dance studio, en route engaging in the dynamic movement of city life. Kinetic, portrait-filled art from Morrison (Breaking to the Beat!) reveals the neighborhood’s sights (double Dutch, the Icee man, pickup games), vibrantly conveying the essence of the protagonist’s home: “my city/ my hood/ my block. My home/ my village/ my family/ my friends/ my soul.” Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Lindsay Auld, Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
Praise for My Block Looks Like by Janelle Harper and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner, Frank Morrison:
*"[V]ibrant . . . Morrison’s illustrations provide rich sensory detail and energy to support the narrator’s observations . . . At the same time, words and images work collectively to challenge readers to slow down and pay attention to the wonders of city life that are easy to misunderstand or dismiss . . . Harper’s block (she hails from the Bronx) is alive, aptly called "my soul," and supported by Morrison’s images and warm colors, a refreshing invitation to visit or imagine this vivid, memorable place." —Horn Book, starred review
*"The artist’s careful attention to detail and the shifting visual perspectives in action scenes bring Harper’s musical text to life. The narrator argues convincingly for the Bronx as 'the coolest place I’ve ever been,' where 'dreams rise higher than the smog' and neighbors 'sparkle under streetlamps.' A culturally rich and beautifully illustrated child’s-eye view of home." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
*"Kinetic, portrait-filled art from Morrison (Breaking to the Beat!) reveals theneighborhood’s sights (double Dutch, the Icee man, pickup games), vibrantly conveying the essence ofthe protagonist’s home: “my city/ my hood/ my block. My home/ my village/ my family/ my friends/ my soul." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Dynamic details and an expansive sense of possibility . . . A caring depiction of urban life that will resonate with listeners who love the bustling energy and beauty of the place they call home." —BCCB Reviews
"Morrison paints vibrant spreads . . . The poetic text reads like a song and makes for a perfect read-aloud story . . . A positive and uplifting book that can be appreciated by all readers." —School Library Journal
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
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2023-10-21
A Black child’s ode to the Bronx.
The protagonist, who has golden-brown skin and an expansive curly Afro and wears green camo shorts over black leggings, strolls through a city neighborhood, observing all that unfolds. The sounds and rhythms of hip-hop permeate this tuneful narrative as the protagonist plays in the spray of a fire hydrant, shops at a favorite bodega, eats an Icee from a street vendor, and praises the “aerosol masterpieces” (graffiti) that grace the walls of nearby buildings. Equally comfortable on the basketball court and the dance stage, the young narrator stays in perpetual motion, striding, gliding, and bouncing through the city. When the media reports on the Bronx or when people get a “bird’s-eye view” of the “concrete jungle,” only the negatives surface, but this child sees the community’s cultural wealth. By focusing on the child’s active engagement with the neighborhood, Morrison portrays the protagonist’s excitement for this space and its people in his graffiti-style art. The artist’s careful attention to detail and the shifting visual perspectives in action scenes bring Harper’s musical text to life. The narrator argues convincingly for the Bronx as “the coolest place I’ve ever been,” where “dreams rise higher than the smog” and neighbors “sparkle under streetlamps.”
A culturally rich and beautifully illustrated child’s-eye view of home. (Picture book. 4-8)
