by Nikki Grimes.
This is a special book. It is our picture book darling of the season.Each page spread is a poem, and together, the poems tell the story of a bi-racial, blended family overcoming the trials and tribulations of learning to live and love together.Xavier's Mom has just married Chris's Dad. To Xavier, the house feels too small, the love seems not enough for two, and just about everything Chris does, Xavier sees as ill-intentioned or competitive. But that makes the book sound heavy when indeed these are witty, moving poems that skip, sink, soar and take unexpected twists along with the little boy's emotions. They read with the ease that excellent children's poetry has. It comes in lightly and then insinuates itself into the mind over time. When the brothers work things out and find joy in each other, my 5-year-old daughter in my lap was full of happiness and bounce. The pictures burst with energy, expression and color, and more than match the text--they give it life and whimsy. The eyes are beautiful.Oh Book, what lovely light touch, with a heavy subject. We read so manybooks here that seldom can we say with confidence, "just one read-throughthis one" and it will stay with you. It really will.
Reviewed by Vivian
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