Henry Holton’s family is obsessed by hockey. His father, mother, big sister, twenty-three cousins and even his grandmother all play or have played hockey. The only question there seemed to be about Henry after he was born was if he was going to be left or right wing. There was absolutely no question that Henry was going to be great on the ice! From his first day on the ice Henry really was a natural.
As author Sandra Bradley tells us, Henry was a natural at swishing, swooshing, and swaggering. However, he was not a natural at hockey. From the moment the hockey stick was placed in his hands when he was a very little boy he felt that hockey was not for him. Even as he got older skating was what he loved to do. Hockey was boring to him. What was the point in going up and down the rink if you couldn’t skate beautifully? Henry’s parents and big sister find Henry’s lack of interest in hockey inexplicable.
One day Henry sees a poster for an ice dancing club. It’s not hockey, but Henry’s mom agrees that they can go and watch. What Henry sees on the ice in ice dancing is exactly what he wants to do! He doesn’t want to play hockey anymore. Henry wants to ice dance! Henry’s family has their doubts, but just when you think that Henry will never get his chance to do what the reader knows he was just born to do a surprising person steps in to take Henry’s side.
This picture book shows the importance of staying true to who you really are. The lovely illustrations by Sara Palacios of the red headed Holton family brighten up the icy background. A helpful glossary of hockey terms is located at the back of the book. We all need to be reminded that it’s more than okay to be who you are. In fact, that is exactly who you were meant to be! Henry Holton Takes the Ice is a sweet, sensitively told story that speaks straight to the heart.
Click here to read about Pura Belpré Honor Award Winner, illustrator Sara Palacios’ other book, ‘Twas Nochebuena written by Roseanne Greenfield Thong.
Today we’re excited to share Cathy Ballou Mealey’s review of Imani’s Moonwritten by JaNay Brown-Wood along with Ronna Mandel’s Q&A with illustrator Hazel Mitchell. Plus we’ve got a great book giveaway!
REVIEW: IMANI’S MOON is written by JaNay Brown-Wood and illustrated by Hazel Mitchell (Charlesbridge/Mackinac Island Press, $17.95, Ages 5-8)
Imani, the smallest child in her African village, has been teased mercilessly by the other children because of her size. Their heartless jabs are just beginning to take a toll on Imani’s self-confidence when her mother tells her the legend of the brave moon deity Olapa. Inspired by a dream in which she stands hand in hand with the lunar goddess, tiny Imani awakens with the desire to do something great, to touch the moon.
In pursuit of her dream, Imani tries to reach the moon by climbing a tall tree, and building herself a giant pair of wings. The village children, even a snake and a chimpanzee, scoff at her valiant but failed attempts to reach the sky. But Imani’s mother still believes in her, offering the tale of Anansi the spider as a soothing and inspirational bedtime story. “A challenge is only impossible until someone accomplishes it,” she reassures her young daughter.
Although discouraged, Imani attends a village celebration featuring the adumu, a special Maasai warrior jumping dance. She is particularly fascinated by one dancer who jumps higher and higher with each beat. Imani wakes the next morning, determined to try jumping her way to the moon. All day and into the night Imani jumps, a little higher each time. Despite her aching legs and throbbing feet, Imani keeps her focus on the moon, resolute on her goal.
Readers will yearn for Imani’s success in the face of her faith and tiny warrior-like endurance, and cheer when her persistence is ultimately rewarded by the moon goddess herself.
Gleaming and triumphant with arms stretched wide, the cover of Imani’s Moon welcomes readers into this magical story touched with mythology, folklore and story-telling traditions. Mitchell’s watercolor illustrations offer sharp contrast between the soft earth tones of the African landscape and the rich, star-studded night skies. Lovely details abound, from cuddly goats to beaded jewelry and colorful shuka robes.
This sweet, inspiring fantasy will rouse young readers to leap for their dreams, and dance, spellbound, until they hold the proverbial moon in their hands.
Where Obtained: I reviewed a promotional PDF file copy of Imani’s Moonand received no compensation. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Q&A WITH HAZEL MITCHELL:
Good Reads With Ronna:Imani is a beautiful person and a wonderful role model. She feels so real. Did you have someone in mind when you drew her?
Hazel Mitchell: Thank you! It’s lovely to know that. I didn’t have a particular child in mind when I began. The text conveyed a strong sense of Imani to me. So that’s where I started. And then I spent a lot of time looking at photos of Maasai children, who are very charming and full of character. So I began to make sketches. I did have a live model, but mostly for positions and expression and not for facial features. But she was a very lively model and I think that came across!
GRWR:The artwork in Imani’s Moon is joyful, even despite the local girls teasing Imani for being small. That’s an impressive accomplishment. What medium do you generally work in? Or, do you approach each picture book as a blank canvas that you’re eager to experiment with?
HM: I am glad the illustrations gave you such a good feeling – I feel I accomplished my task. I do approach each book with an open mind. I let the manuscript, the age group and the subject suggest to me the mood, the characters and what might work with medium. Sometimes an editor/art director tells me that they like something particularly that I have done before and that is the starting point. But mostly I am left to my own devices. I don’t have one set style, so I guess it can be a leap of faith on the publisher’s part sometimes! Having said that, I’m experimenting much more in my work, using more watercolour, collage and mixing in digital techniques. Imani’s world spoke to me of rich colours and textures and dramatic effects, so I had a lot of fun with this book!
GRWR: What tends to be the hardest part of working on a new picture book: Starting it? Trying to capture the author’s vision while remaining true to yourself? Finishing the book, or waiting for the next assignment to roll in?
I personally find the initial roughs the hardest part, but also the most interesting. It’s where the first thoughts of the book come out. It can be frustrating, as the vision is only half formed and sometimes it’s exhausting. The hardest part is trying to keep the freshness that you have in the initial sketches. Once you get to finals, the vision is there and it’s time to have some fun with technique and any little surprises that come along that you didn’t expect. After the book is finished, it’s like you gave birth. Then it incubates, until it finally arrives in book form. Then it’s a love/hate relationship!
GIVEAWAY: Hazel Mitchell has kindly offered one lucky reader a signed copy of Imani’s Moon. Please enter the Rafflecopter below and good luck!
llustrations by Sara Palacios, (Dial Books for Young Readers, $16.99, Ages 5-8).
