Akeem Keeps Bees! A Close-up Look at the Honey Makers and Pollinators of Sankofa Farms by Kamal E. Bell with Akeem Bell, illustrated by Darnell Johnson, Storey Publishing
This is a wonderful book about beekeeping, that goes into great detail about the life cycles of bees and the processes of tending to their hives. It looks at the specialist equipment and clothing needed, how to introduce a queen to the colony, the different types of bees and the jobs they do, how honey and honeycomb are made, why bees swarm, harvesting honey, and more. The information is imparted through an accessible comic strip, which features the author, Kamal Bell, his son Akeem, and the bees themselves who have some amusing dialogue. Kamal Bell is the founder of Sankofa Farms in North Carolina, which he set up to address “food deserts” experienced by certain communities. The farm helps young men learn STEM skills that can be used on the farm, and partners with organisations to ensure the food produced reaches the people who need it most.
My Language Rights: A Child’s Right to Their Language by Judy Thompson, illustrated by Tete Garcia, Scribble
This feels like a really important book for multilingual children. It champions every child’s right to their language and reveals how language holds more than just words – it carries our stories, memories and culture. Languages are presented as living and breathing, constantly evolving with the people who use them. The book suggests that by learning other languages, we can listen to one another better, and acknowledges the pain and isolation people can feel when they’re in a place where no one knows their language. This is a powerful book, which emboldens children to value their cultural identity. It celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity, and encourages us to strive to preserve it.
Wrong Time Rooster by Michael Parkin, Flying Eye Books
When Farmer Tony introduces Ronnie the Rooster to the farmyard, he thinks he has solved the issue of his animals sleeping in late. The only problem is, Ronnie keeps cock-a-doodle-dooing at completely the wrong time, much to the amusement of the other animals, and the frustration of Farmer Tony. Hopeless at telling the time, Ronnie fears he’ll be sent away, until Farmer Tony comes up with a plan to help. The animals in this book are illustrated with great character – Ronnie particularly. And children will love joining in with chants of “Wrong time, Rooster!”
Wisdom of the Woods: 40 Poems to Treasure by Rachel Piercey, illustrated by Freya Hartas, Magic Cat Publishing
The time has come for Papa Bear to pass on to Bear the wisdom of their forest home and he does it through 40 poems that conjure the magic of Brown Bear Wood. These nature poems touch on everyday natural wonders: ‘Dawn Chorus’, ‘Busy Ants’, ‘Beautiful Bark’, ‘Spider Maths’. Rachel Piercey uses language, rhythm and rhyme to engage young ears and the poems are a joy to read aloud. Though crisp and succinct, they impart so much information to fascinate children and tap into their curiosity for nature. This is a sumptuously produced and highly illustrated pocket-size book, with an endearing cast of woodland characters depicted beautifully by Freya Hartas.
Eid for Nylah by Nizrana Farook, illustrated by Zelma Firdauzia, Nosy Crow
Nylah is the neighbourhood cat. She lives with Zahra’s family and is well loved by many on the street. But tonight, with the crescent moon shining in the sky, she goes from house to house and no one has time to play with her. They are all too busy putting up decorations, painting henna, preparing food, wrapping presents. Something special must be happening, and the next morning, all becomes clear. It’s Eid! The celebrations begin and finally Nylah is invited to join in. In Eid for Nylah, Nizrana Farook shares the excitement she felt as a child in the days before Eid. The book delights in some of the many customs and traditions from around the world that are used to celebrate the day.
Boobies by Nancy Vo, Faber
This book takes a playful look at mammary glands, the feature common to all mammals. It discusses how mammals use their boobies to feed their young, and how different species have different numbers of boobies, mostly in pairs, but did you know, opossums have 13? There’s a fabulous double-page spread of human breasts, in all their glorious variety, that acknowledges how they change as you grow up and grow older. Informative and entertaining and with playful words and pictures, this book is a celebration of our wonderful bodies.
The Bicycle by Patricia McCormick and Mevan Babakar, illustrated by Yas Imamura, Farshore
This book is based on the real-life story of Mevan Babakar. Originally from Kurdistan, Mevan grew up in a land of figs and honeysuckle. When she and her parents are forced to flee their home, Mevan leaves everything she knows behind. From her new window, in a tall apartment block in the Netherlands where she lives with other displaced people, Mevan sees children whizzing around on bicycles. She’s never seen one before. She longs to join them, but she’s too afraid to go out. One day, Egbert, who fixes things in her building, brings her a bicycle. It’s a gift that allows her to be a child. In the epilogue we learn that Mevan, years later, having never forgotten Egbert’s kindness, posted a picture of him on the internet with her story, asking “Can anyone help me find this man?” It was shared over a hundred thousand times, and before she knew it, she was knocking on his door. Mevan’s story inspired others to share similar stories and people began asking themselves, “What’s one kind thing I can do?”
First Friends: Shapes and First Friends: Numbers by Mk Smith Despres, illustrated by Aya Watanabe, Barefoot Books
First Friends is a rhyming board book series set in a nursery that features a diverse group of children as they go about their day. Each title introduces a concept – shapes or numbers – and the learning is gently embedded in the engaging words and pictures, which help us count, or recognise the shapes, of the things we see. The children in the books take part in familiar activities, such as playing with building blocks, painting, going outside and circle time, as well as the more functional aspects of a childcare setting – hanging coats on pegs, eating lunch, using the toilet, having a nap. For children who go to nursery, it’s enjoyable to recognise their own routines in these brightly illustrated books.
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Reviews by Alice Ellerby
Published in issue 94. Accurate at the time this issue went to print.
