Overview
While Jomar and his brother, Franklin, are on their stoop waiting for Grandpa, friends and neighbors come by—whizzing on skates, showing off their new treads, or bouncing a ball. Whether it's Whassup? or Yo!, Jo's got a greeting for everyone—until Grandpa arrives and only classic words will do: I love you.
With a fresh new style, Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Rachel Isadora fashions an exuberant intergenerational celebration of language, neighborhoods, and family.
Synopsis
Kids will love repeating the hip, fun slang in this book featuring art that combines aspects of the art of Ezra Jack Keats and Eric Carle
School Library Journal
PreS - Gr 2 - In this bright and appealing picture book, Isadora successfully uses colorful collage images to introduce an urban African-American neighborhood. Two brothers wait outside their building for their grandfather to come home for dinner. The younger boy, Jomar, wanders down the street where his friends greet him in hip-hop-style slang. Isadora depicts an active neighborhood in which kids are rollerblading, jamming to music, or just hanging out to show off their clothes and cool sneakers ("Check out the treads!"). The greetings are short, colloquial, inner-city phrases that include, "Yo, bro!," "S'up, Jomar!," "Hit me with it," "Gotta bounce," and "Yo! Chillin'!" When Grandpa comes home, he questions Jomar's use of slang and gets a proper, "I love you, Grandpa" in response. The man approves, but winks, turns to the older brother and asks, "Yo Franklin, you chillin' with us?" before they go in to dinner. The illustrations depict the reality of inner-city life including graffiti, loud music, litter, and garbage cans, but the friendly greetings and bright colors moderate the scene and create a warm, family-oriented environment. Isadora welcomes readers into Jomar's world and communicates his simple joy and acceptance in a way that is contagious. Children will respond positively to the lively depiction and warmth of his community.-Carole Phillips, Greenacres Elementary School, Scarsdale, NY
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationEditorials
School Library Journal
PreS - Gr 2 - In this bright and appealing picture book, Isadora successfully uses colorful collage images to introduce an urban African-American neighborhood. Two brothers wait outside their building for their grandfather to come home for dinner. The younger boy, Jomar, wanders down the street where his friends greet him in hip-hop-style slang. Isadora depicts an active neighborhood in which kids are rollerblading, jamming to music, or just hanging out to show off their clothes and cool sneakers ("Check out the treads!"). The greetings are short, colloquial, inner-city phrases that include, "Yo, bro!," "S'up, Jomar!," "Hit me with it," "Gotta bounce," and "Yo! Chillin'!" When Grandpa comes home, he questions Jomar's use of slang and gets a proper, "I love you, Grandpa" in response. The man approves, but winks, turns to the older brother and asks, "Yo Franklin, you chillin' with us?" before they go in to dinner. The illustrations depict the reality of inner-city life including graffiti, loud music, litter, and garbage cans, but the friendly greetings and bright colors moderate the scene and create a warm, family-oriented environment. Isadora welcomes readers into Jomar's world and communicates his simple joy and acceptance in a way that is contagious. Children will respond positively to the lively depiction and warmth of his community.-Carole Phillips, Greenacres Elementary School, Scarsdale, NY
Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information