Georgie Dupree: Drawn to Friends

PreS-K–Georgie’s family—mother, father, and twin brothers—are moving from Louisiana to Washington, DC, to live with Nana, and Georgie is unhappy. While Georgie is awed by the city skyscrapers and excited to see her new room, she still misses home. She quickly trades her sadness and frustration for cheer, however, as she goes outside to meet the neighbor and try to find friends, but to no avail. Nana encourages her, “Keep your chin up, Georgie. Give it some time, sugar. Don’t forget that your family is always here for you.” Georgie tries to play with her family, but everyone is busy and Georgie is tearful and upset again. At a street fair the next day, Georgie feels inspired by a chalk artist and decides to use her drawing skills on the sidewalk at her new home to make friends. She soon does. Georgie’s wild swings of emotion disrupt the pacing, and the text is didactic in tone. The digital-style illustrations often feature Georgie, who is Black, with a wide open mouth and big eyes that strike as comical rather than reflective of her mood. Some phrases in the text, perhaps for emphasis, are featured in larger, colored font but often read as random. The resolution happens too quickly and further highlights the story’s poor pacing.