2018 School Spending Survey Report
PreS-Gr 3–Mei, a young Chinese American girl, is preparing to honor her great-great-grandfather, the second American-born Chinese person in Washington, D.C., alongside her mother, father, and baby brother. As the family begins the journey to the Friendship Archway, Mei, donning her favorite dragon barrette and her great-great-grandmother’s jade necklace, asks her mother, who is wearing her special cheongsam, to tell her the story of their family. Along the familiar route that includes stops in the local tea shop and bakery that have hateful vandalism on their exteriors, Mei listens and helps tell the story, which began in 1879. They soon arrive at their destination in Chinatown, which Mei is surprised to see is filled with crowds holding signs and listening to a speaker. Mei and her mother soon take the stage and together share their family’s story, with Mei beginning a chant of, “We are American, too.” Chase flawlessly interweaves themes of resilience and bravery throughout the narrative, which is based on her family history. Chen’s illustrations capture the strength, pride, and unity of Mei’s Chinese ancestry and American identity, as well as the endless support of both her community and family. Back matter includes an author’s note and family tree.
VERDICT A stunning story of family history and heritage, identity, and the power of protest, this is highly recommended purchase for all collections.Danticat, Edwidge. Watch Out for Falling Iguanas. illus. by Rachel Moss. 32p. Black Sheep. Jul. 2025. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781636142326. Gr 1-3–Leila is happy to get to wear her winter coat, since she rarely needs it in Miami. Then, as she’s leaving for school, Leila is surprised when Grandma Issa tells her to “Watch out for falling iguanas.” As they drive, her mother suggests perhaps it’s chickens crossing the road or peacocks on the sidewalk that Leila is supposed to watch out for, but Leila knows what she heard. When she sees an iguana fall from a tree, no one else does. Papa asks if it was a cat and her friends tease her about thinking the sky is falling, per the story of Chicken Little. Leila is vindicated when her teacher takes the class for a walk to show them some fallen iguanas and to explain why they are on the ground. Moss’s realistic illustrations do an excellent job of depicting the substance of Danticat’s plentiful text, which is nicely integrated into the illustrations. VERDICT Use of thought/speech bubbles, the variety of half-page and full spreads, and highlights of a falling iguana make the illustrations a delight, especially with facts along the way.–Catherine Callegari
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? LOG IN
We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? LOG IN
Thank you for visiting.
We’ve noticed you are using a private browser. To continue, please log in or create an account.
Be the first reader to comment.
Comment Policy:
Comment should not be empty !!!