(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara. It's a beautiful morning, and even though Dad just wants to watch futbol, his full-of-energy daughter reminds him that he promised to go on a hike with her. "Annou ale! Off we go!" to the "tippy top" of their verdant Caribbean island. The adventurous duo encourages each other in Creole, and the accompanying English text makes for easy reading, as does its spacious, verse-like placement amid the lush full-bleed illustrations. The hike is more challenging than either one expected--"Mouté! Climb on!"--until finally, they make it to the top, from which they can see their whole town and the sea beyond. If only someone had brought a camera! Oh, well. "Chonjé. Remember." Fans of the creators' previous, futbol-centered collaboration, The Field (rev. 5/18), will cheer this very welcome addition, but this book also easily stands on its own. The endpapers encourage readers to go back through the book to find a variety of creatures hidden on the pages.

Reviewer: Maija Meadows Hasegawa | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jana Glatt. When a young country girl, Melba, oversleeps and misses her ride to the Carnival parade in town, she sets out to catch the bus, but there's so much to intrigue and excite her on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia that she keeps getting distracted. There's Misyé Francois and his steelpan music, Kenwin and his kite, Mrs. Drina and her bananas, and some very friendly animals. Repeatedly missing the bus, Melba ends up walking all the way to town, accompanied by everyone she's met along the way; but disappointment awaits--the last masquerade band departs just as they arrive. Melba is crushed to have missed the parade until she and her companions realize there's still one masquerade "band" left--themselves! Glatt's folk-art-style paintings complement this story rooted in the cultural life of a community, and the festive spirit of Carnival comes through vividly in the cacophonously colorful palette. (In what is perhaps an understandable attempt to bowdlerize the often-saucy Carnival costumes for young readers, the illustrations sacrifice some cultural authenticity.) The back matter provides educational information about Saint Lucia and its culture (but fails to mention Carnival's roots in slavery). With Saint Lucian Creole words effectively interspersed throughout the text, Paul's winsome tale provides an accessible introduction to an important cultural tradition.

Reviewer: Summer Edward | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon. Growing up in northwestern Cameroon, Tantoh Nforba loved the rich soil and earned the nickname "Farmer." As an adult, he has become an effective advocate for clean water and safe agricultural practices. This heartening story conveys the importance of sound agricultural practices across farms, schoolyards, communities, and nations. In Zunon's colorful mixed-media illustrations, the vibrancy of people, water, and soil showcase the movement Farmer Tantoh has built. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara. In a rural Caribbean community, children gather for a pickup game of futbol (soccer); it starts to pour, but the players and fans are unfazed. The staccato text, a mix of English and Creole, perfectly captures the intensity and forward propulsion of the action, culminating in an ecstatic cry of "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!" Vibrant illustrations, full of movement and saturated with color, match the vigor of the text. Glos.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018