My 18 month old son and I both love this book. I think he can really relate to the illustrations for several reasons. First of all, the characters, like his family and himself, are black people. Secondly, the book shows the family doing things that we do as a family such as reading, singing, giving the baby a bath, and giving the baby a good night kiss. This book reflects a normal, two parent family who have a lot of love for their child. What could be healthier?

Even though my daughter is only 15 months old, this is definitely one of her favorite books and has been since she was old enough to pick her own books out. The story is simple and short, teaching healthy family values. The pictures are bright, colorful and genuine. Each page has just a few lines which are all a young child can handle. And the book itself is constructed of sturdy hardboard, making it easy for her to turn the pages, just like in the story. She makes me read this story every night and appears to listen intently each time. I highly recommend it for even the youngest infants.

This is one of the sweetest little bedtime books for babies. It is short, with colorful pictures, and a nice rhythmical rhyme. It is one of a series featuring African-American families. But, like any good book, it is written for all colors! I applud the authors and publisher. If you cannot purchase it, find it in your library. This is a good book to introduce your baby to the world of reading!

Meet Elizabeth Coleman--the first African American woman to fly a plane. Coleman's story is told in a series of "interviews" starting from her childhood right up to her death. Her family talks about her education, her determination, and her unfailing dream to be more than just a field hand. Reporters talk about her as a pilot, and friends and fans talk about her courage and determination. In a time when skin color was a huge dividing line, Coleman managed to rise above it all, literally, in a plane. Her story is fascinating, and the style Nikki Grimes uses is readable, unique, and fitting for the tale. E.B. Lewis's pictures capture various aspects of Coleman's life--including details that the words opposite the picture don't mention. There is a note at the beginning of the book, and a note at the end, explaining more about Bessie Coleman and her life in the early 1900s. There also is a bibliography provided. This book won the Coretta Scott King award for 2003.

This book is an unusual, thought-provoking means of telling the story of Bessie Coleman's life. Written in free verse, Bessie's story is told by the people who attend her funeral, her family, friends, and acquaintances. Each voice is intriguing, weaving a complex tapestry of this noteworthy woman's life. Teachers and dramatists take note--what a great book to use for reader's theatre or as a play. E.B. Lewis' illustrations are perfect for the book, setting the right tone for each voice, and his portraits of each speaker bring them alive, talking to us as though we were there at the memorial service. I'm giving this as a gift to several children I know!

When Daddy Prays is a collection of poems and verses to help a child to learn about prayer. The book tells about a child learns just that from his father. The same as we learn from our Heavenly Father. The Father's prayers help carry the family throughout each day. No matter what the situations or circumstances prayer brings them closer.

I recommend this to any parent, Christian or non-Christian as a teaching tool for their children. Showing them the value and importance of prayer and bringing families closer together in the bonds of love and faith in the Lord Jesus. The illustrations are beautiful, too.

Our library recently purchased this book. I loved it. The illustrations are wonderful, but the verses and prayers truly speak to the heart.

This is an awe-inspiring retelling of the first story of the Bible - the creation story. The poetic text emphasizes the loving collaborative effort of Father and Son (God and Jesus) in bringing the universe into existence.

This is the only creation storybook that we have found that addresses the "us" in "Let US make man in OUR image." (Genesis 1:26), by acknowledging the presence of the Son at the time of creation.

The illustrations are beautifully artistic, thus taking children into the story. Our Christian Sunday school curriculum company for the Workshop Rotation Model likes this story so much that we have integrated it into one of our lessons.

Zuri Jackson and Danitra Brown are best friends facing a long summer apart, for Danitra is going to visit her family in the country. They decide to cultivate a series of letters sharing their summer: this presents their insights, with Floyd Cooper providing the illustrative embellishments.

Storywise, this is probably the best of all the printed retellings of the Disney movie "The Little Mermaid." It's concise, explains the characters' feelings with a depth other "children's books" rarely do, and sticks very closely to the movie's storyline. It's also a very well-constructed book, sturdy despite its small size. Excellent stocking stuffer and actually a delight to read. Very high print quality; the reproduction of the movie artwork is superb

Growin' is a great book to read to ten year olds. It has so real life problems that so many of my students share. The book held them spell bound, always asking that I extend the oral reading of this book. This is the first of Ms. Grimes books that I have ever read, but it certainly won't be the last. I look forward to reading some of her other writings.

In "Is it Far to Zanzibar?" the poems of Nikki Grimes combine with the beautiful illustrations of Betsy Lewin to paint a portrait of the African nation of Tanzania. Many of the poems incorporate Swahili words, and a useful Swahili-English vocabulary at the end of the book adds to its educational value. Also useful is a full-page map of Tanzania which shows the location of Zanzibar Island, Mount Meru, and other important landmarks.

The poems and illustrations introduce readers to the people, customs, food, animals, and geographic features of Tanzania. Grimes favors appealing, song-like rhymes in her poems. For example, "A Taste of Zanzibar" begins, "Go to Zanzibar to see / a nutmeg bush, a cashew tree." Lewin's watercolor illustrations are colorful and have an energetic grace to them.

Both the poet and the illustrator seem to take great delight in their subjects. As the book progresses, we encounter a crowded bus ride, an elderly mango peddler's cheerful song, the majesty of Mount Meru, the hot peppers that spice Tanzanian food, and other African delights. This is a wonderful book for children who are interested in poetry, in the Swahili language (or foreign languages in general), or in African life and culture.

Poems & photos, bursting with life, on subjects from getting teased to being tickled, from loving old friends to hating new glasses; often hilarious, clever & insightful. Children after my own heart! The photographs accompanying the poems in this lovely, vivid book are enchanting, thoughtful & deeply instructive. Children laughing, leaping & loving, alive! Celebrating running, reading, being in action & in poetry...

This is a great book. The book is very fast paced and teaches great life lessons. Although, I was sometimes bored with the same repetitive moral in each chapter, "Don't judge a book by it's cover." I thought Grimes rode that line a little too much in this book, but still overall it's a great read!

I am the library/media specialist at a middle school. This book was easily the best piece of YA fiction that I've read all year. The teachers with whom I shared it were similarly impressed. One teacher just couldn't put it down, so she began reading it aloud to her class. (Fortunately they were in the middle of their poetry unit!) After class several of her students came to the media center looking for copies they could check out. The characters' voices ring true to readers of all ages and the message the book sends is timeless. I highly recommend this book to all!

I really loved this book it was about highschool students and their intrest in poetry! Their poerty connected all of the them together. There were whites,blacks,latinos,and italians. I think this book taught me alot about race and how there is always a place for someone to fit in, but you just gotta serach for it. I really recommend this book to anybody who love poerty or just likes to read. I finished the book in TWO days.It usually takes me about 4 days but this book was so good i just couldn't put it down!!!So check it out and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!!