Overview
Little Catfish knows that something is missing from his street. For one thing, there are hardly any stores—his grandma has to take two city buses to the market—and there is only one lonely tree left standing on the block. Even the Regal Theater is run-down. Little Catfish's friend Mr. Odell says that the biggest stars used to appear at the Regal, including the legendary Paul Robeson. Now it's only a shabby community center.
But what if Little Catfish can fix whatever's missing? What if he and Mr. Odell can find a hero to help, one who can do just about anything, like Paul Robeson? "Yeah, right," say the older boys who claim the street as their own. Yeah, right.
But one early summer day, directly outside the Regal Theater, something new gets planted on Little Catfish's street. Something that has the power to grow and grow. As long as Little Catfish and Mr. Odell and the older boys and anyone else who comes to appreciate the majesty of its cool, dark shade tend to it.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Belton's (Store-Bought Baby) latest, a hopeful tale of social change, pays tribute to the legendary Paul Robeson, gifted athlete, scholar, actor, baritone and civil rights crusader. The author initially sets a somber scene: in Little Catfish's hometown, shops are boarded up and the Regal Theater, whose marquee once heralded appearances by such stars as Robeson, Duke Ellington and Marian Anderson, is now a community center. Odell Davis, the theater's elderly caretaker, becomes a mentor to Little Catfish, regaling him with tales of Robeson's accomplishments, and paving the way for a rebirth for the town as the Royal is restored, stores reopen and trees are replanted. Belton shifts between a third-person narrator whose measured words recall a honeyed movie voiceover ("And so it happened just that way. Without anybody realizing it at the time, something new on that street got planted") and the more conversationally expressed viewpoints of Little Catfish and an older, rebellious boy. An earnest, if heavy-handed, entreaty to simultaneously look forward and remember past heroes. Ages 8-12. (Jan.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationChildren's Literature -
This fictional account of two people engaged by the life and activities of a great patriot, Paul Robeson, is enough to whet your appetite for more. I did not have my picture taken with Paul Robeson, as the story's elderly Mr. Odell did, but I am old enough to remember meeting his mother at a retreat during my college years. At that time, there were all kinds of rumors about him. The author does cover some of the rumors I remember hearing about him in her fictional account of his life. I also know there is much more to this giant of a man who lived during African American's difficult times. All who read this book should be enticed to go on to explore the full range of Paul Robeson's talents and accomplishments during a very difficult period in American history. As the author portrays in her book, remembering heroes like Paul Robeson and others from our past gives us the courage, dedication and will to move forward to make this a better world for all. Reviewer: Leila ToledoSchool Library Journal
Gr 3-5- Little Catfish was not yet born when his neighborhood thrived: cultural and political African-American icons once frequented the local theater, the Regal. Now the neighborhood is run-down and depressed. But his friend Mr. Odell, who operates the Regal, remembers when, as a boy, he had his picture taken under a tree with athlete, actor, and civil-rights leader Paul Robeson. Now the trees in the neighborhood are gone, and it is up to Mr. Odell to be "the tallest tree," a symbol of hope. Unfortunately, the local gang, headed by Lamar, resents the changes Mr. Odell brings to the neighborhood. This is a story of respecting the past and what it has to teach us. It is also a story of hope-determination and inspiration can overcome adversity. Many kids, particularly those who live in blighted urban neighborhoods, will be able to relate to Little Catfish (or Lamar) and may perhaps be inspired to investigate their own town's history. The ending is too pat-Lamar and his gang change heart much too quickly. Likewise, some readers may wish for more character development: one finishes the story wanting more information about the lives of Lamar, Little Catfish, and Mr. Odell. The good news is that there is a wealth of information in the back matter to encourage readers to explore the heroes of the past on their own.-Laura Lutz, Queens Borough Public Library, NY
Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.