witchofthemountains's review
3.0
This was a very cute book with really great illustrations. But I only gave it three stars because neither of the boys I watch (or their mother) were very fond of it. I babysit for an African American family and, as we live in a state with one of the highest white populations in the country, I wanted to support the boys' sense of pride in the heritage. They found it interesting, but took issue with the lack of boys in the book (they're too young to explain how unusual that is) and their mother took issue with the idea that the book indicates all African American children are "princesses" or "princes".
As it is not my heritage I defer to her opinion on the book, though I will say that it is well written with beautiful illustrations.
As it is not my heritage I defer to her opinion on the book, though I will say that it is well written with beautiful illustrations.
mat_tobin's review
4.0
I wasn't keen on reading this and although I think the writing needs some work, the story itself and Anne Wilson's artwork is wonderful. There is a very clever interplay here between text and image and I think that this offers an engaging and fruitful discussion with children around identity and stereotypes.
The story is one in which Lyra wishes to understand her African heritage. Having heard that she is descended from a line of princesses, she is bullied at school for her pomposity and begins to question her mother's words. In order to support her, the family visit her aunt in the Caribbean and discover the truth.
What I found deeply powerful were the intrinsic statements make (or not) by Anne Wilson and her art. The bullies are both black and white and Lyra's father is white too. None of this is mentioned in the text and can lead to interesting discussions about presumptive stereotypes.
The story is one in which Lyra wishes to understand her African heritage. Having heard that she is descended from a line of princesses, she is bullied at school for her pomposity and begins to question her mother's words. In order to support her, the family visit her aunt in the Caribbean and discover the truth.
What I found deeply powerful were the intrinsic statements make (or not) by Anne Wilson and her art. The bullies are both black and white and Lyra's father is white too. None of this is mentioned in the text and can lead to interesting discussions about presumptive stereotypes.
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