Synopsis
Lily knows that nothing is more important than family. She's so proud when her sister, Eubie, wins a college scholarship. And when her family pulls together to earn the rest of the money Eubie needs, Lily wants to help out too. But she's too young to do most jobs. What can she do to pitch in for Eubie?
Through her lyrical prose, Jerdine Nolen shares a heartfelt story about people working together to make dreams come true. And as Caldecott Honor artist E. B. Lewis reminds us in his luminous, tender paintings, nothing is more important than those family ties that bind us.
Children's Literature
Young Lily reports the excitement in her African American family when her sister Eubie receives a college scholarship. But $3,000 more is needed for her room and board. The girls papa says that if everyone pitches in over the summer, they can raise the money, for dreams are made to come true. Lily does all she can as her family members all work harder, but she does not think it is enough. No one buys her iced tea or wants her to pet sit. Finally, Mrs. Tolliver needs someone to look in on her mother while she is away. Lily speaks up, gets the job, and feels she is finally pitching in to make dreams come true. Lewis has chosen parts of the narrative sure to generate emotion to illustrate in single and double-page naturalistic watercolors. Lily s body is limp, her face down, as she sits in her papa s lap feeling unable to earn money. She waits in vain for customers for her tea. But she raises her arms in glee as she offers to help Mrs. Tolliver out. Lewis adds details of time and place to make the reader feel present in this inspirational story. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz