Sunday, April 30, 2023

Song in the City by Daniel Bernstrom and Jenin Mohammed

Song in the City
by Daniel Bernstrom, illustrated by Jenin Mohammed
. PICTURE BOOK (K-3rd grade) Harper Collins. 2022. $18. 9780063011120

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Emmalene, a blind African-American child, is going to church with her Grandma Jean. As they walk through the busy city, Emmalene listens to all of the busy city noises: car honks, yipping dogs, rumbling buses, a marching band, sizzling foods and the tap of her cane. As Emmalene and Grandma Jean arrive at the church, Emmalene hears the wind blowing clothes on a line, rattling branches, and crinkling leaves. All of the sounds she hears she turns into a lively song and she begs her Grandmother to listen and hear, but Grandma Jean is busy and only hears the city noises as they hurry to their destination. Emmalene is frustrated, and sad, but figures out a way for her Grandma to listen as she does.

Mohammed’s illustrations are so colorful, realistic and perfect for the dialog/text, detailing the meaning of the story. The reader will be able to feel the city and the sounds Emmalene hears. The reader will be engaged by the illustrations and text. Song in the City is a an enjoyable and lovely book with several messages for the reader and can help in a discussion of those with disabilities such a blindness. Song in the City would be an opening for a discussion/lesson on disabilities and senses. A must have for any elementary school library.  The characters are African American. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech

No comments:

Post a Comment

Welcome to Kiss the Book Jr.!

Welcome! Kiss the Book Jr. is for board books, picture books, early readers, and chapter books.  Also, any novels and non-fiction that we ag...