MY BLOCK LOOKS LIKE, by Janelle Harper and Frank Morrison, Viking Books for Young Readers, Jan. 2, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 4-8)
My Block Looks Like, by Janelle Harper and Frank Morrison, is a love letter to city and the people who live in it.
“My block looks like
a collision of cultures
a melting pot of cool
a burst of life
my favorite groove
. . .No matter what happens
I’ve seen it for myself
my block looks like
the coolest place
I’ve ever been.”
My Block Looks Like is just plain cool.
Author Janelle Harper’s text is the kind you can imagine being not only read, but performed, aloud. It’s beautiful in its cadence, begging to be read fast and slow and in between. It truly stands alone.
But then you put it with Frank Morrison’s fantastic illustrations, and it becomes magic.
Morrison’s images are full of energy and movement. He captures the hustle and bustle, the vibrant diversity and sense of community felt on “the block.” And yet, he captures the quiet moments here and there, too — crossing the street, eating an Icee, sitting at the window. It’s a master class in illustration.
My Block Looks Like would be great in the classroom, especially as a jumping off point for kids to explore what their own blocks look like.
Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
