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silverfeather's review against another edition
read for Library Materials for Children course
ragesandpages's review against another edition
3.0
Kirkus: "They show a Bronzeville that bustles with activity, single-family homes sharing the streets with apartment buildings and the occasional vacant lot. The children run, braids and arms out straight, and contemplate in turns, their exuberance tempered by the solemnity of childhood. While it’s regrettable that occasionally the specificity of the illustration robs a verse of its universality—the “special place” referenced in “Keziah” is shown to be underneath the kitchen table, for instance—the overall ebullience of the images more than compensates."
This book contains poetry that Gwen Brooks wrote in 1956; in this collection, the illustrator added her illustrations to the poems for children. Now, whether these poems were meant for children, I'm not sure. But the feature is that each poem corresponds to different boys and girls in the Bronzeville neighborhood.
The poetry is general is great. In the context of the book, it makes you feel like you know boys and girls of the neighborhood -- and they are all going around and doing everyday things. It corresponds directly to the African American child experience during the 50s & 60s in this neighborhood. However, because it is poetry, it would be meant for an older audience who could understand it better. Also, the collection is not relatable now, but could be used for historical context. I'm curious about the poem "Narcissa" - maybe she's a special needs child? Or perhaps just a shy girl? It's not quite clear, but the reader understands that there are a variety of children that live in Bronzeville.
The illustrations are outlined in marker, then colored in with pencil and marker; it makes it seem like an older child put the illustrations together. But with the bright colors and the illustrations being stylized, it makes the whole thing work.
This book contains poetry that Gwen Brooks wrote in 1956; in this collection, the illustrator added her illustrations to the poems for children. Now, whether these poems were meant for children, I'm not sure. But the feature is that each poem corresponds to different boys and girls in the Bronzeville neighborhood.
The poetry is general is great. In the context of the book, it makes you feel like you know boys and girls of the neighborhood -- and they are all going around and doing everyday things. It corresponds directly to the African American child experience during the 50s & 60s in this neighborhood. However, because it is poetry, it would be meant for an older audience who could understand it better. Also, the collection is not relatable now, but could be used for historical context. I'm curious about the poem "Narcissa" - maybe she's a special needs child? Or perhaps just a shy girl? It's not quite clear, but the reader understands that there are a variety of children that live in Bronzeville.
The illustrations are outlined in marker, then colored in with pencil and marker; it makes it seem like an older child put the illustrations together. But with the bright colors and the illustrations being stylized, it makes the whole thing work.
mariahroze's review against another edition
2.0
Thanks to one of my Goodreads' friends, I was suggested the author Faith Ringgold. My class will be reading all her picture books that my library has because they are great for our Black History Month unit.
This book was written as individual poems. My students found it very confusing and boring. They couldn't understand what was going on at all.
This book was written as individual poems. My students found it very confusing and boring. They couldn't understand what was going on at all.
annaeap's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful celebration of childhood. How lucky we all are to have the poems of Gwendolyn Brooks, who captured the South Side of Chicago and life universals so powerfully!
My favorite poem from the book:
Ella
Beauty has a coldness
That keeps you very warm.
"If I run out to see the clouds,
That will be no harm!"
So Ella left her oatmeal
And fleecy coat behind
And ran into the winter
Where there were clouds to find.
Mother-dear went following,
But reprimand was mild.
She knew that clouds taste better than
Oats to a little child.
My favorite poem from the book:
Ella
Beauty has a coldness
That keeps you very warm.
"If I run out to see the clouds,
That will be no harm!"
So Ella left her oatmeal
And fleecy coat behind
And ran into the winter
Where there were clouds to find.
Mother-dear went following,
But reprimand was mild.
She knew that clouds taste better than
Oats to a little child.
lilmatt050's review against another edition
3.0
This is truly two stars for me but I am giving it three because of Faith Ringgold's illustrations. I love poetry but I dislike poetry that are designed for little kids and either do not make sense or its too whimsical and annoying.
This book deals about inner city kids in this particular neighborhood and describing either every child or what they are currently doing on a normal day. By the time I reach twenty pages into this book I wanted to shoot myself in the foot. I am actually shocked by it because so far I have enjoyed every children picture book so far until now.
I highly wouldn't recommend it unless your child like poetry that rhymes.
This book deals about inner city kids in this particular neighborhood and describing either every child or what they are currently doing on a normal day. By the time I reach twenty pages into this book I wanted to shoot myself in the foot. I am actually shocked by it because so far I have enjoyed every children picture book so far until now.
I highly wouldn't recommend it unless your child like poetry that rhymes.
faeriedrumsong's review against another edition
5.0
It is a random week in the middle of a random month. You're looking around and your eye alights on a child. Suddenly, a short bit of poetic musing about the child pops into your head.
That is what this book feels like to me. I could imagine the neighborhood, the people, the feeling. In such short spaces of time, the characters were fully realized. The artwork is simple but not simplistic, carrying a lot of emotion in a few lines and swaths of color.
Very nice collection of short poetry for ANYONE. I wouldn't limit this to children. Yes, they are short poems, but while a child will feel satisfied with what the words say, an adult can think about what the words leave unsaid, and the stories that happen *after* the poems are over, and that is the best part, in my opinion!
That is what this book feels like to me. I could imagine the neighborhood, the people, the feeling. In such short spaces of time, the characters were fully realized. The artwork is simple but not simplistic, carrying a lot of emotion in a few lines and swaths of color.
Very nice collection of short poetry for ANYONE. I wouldn't limit this to children. Yes, they are short poems, but while a child will feel satisfied with what the words say, an adult can think about what the words leave unsaid, and the stories that happen *after* the poems are over, and that is the best part, in my opinion!
jadareyes1's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 / read the older edition w ronni solbert's illustrations.
musical, sweet, & tender. favorite poems were "eppie," "de koven," and "gertrude"
today i read narcissa to a group of 4th, 5tg & 6th graders on zoom & they loved it
musical, sweet, & tender. favorite poems were "eppie," "de koven," and "gertrude"
today i read narcissa to a group of 4th, 5tg & 6th graders on zoom & they loved it
lmurray74's review against another edition
5.0
Acclaimed poet Gwendolyn Brooks puts her pen to poetry for children in these tender verses, accompanied by bright and expressive illustrations from Faith Ringgold. The pairing of these two talented artists make this a joy to read and to share widely.
rachelkc's review against another edition
4.0
Aiming to show the universality of childhood, the 34 poems of Bronzeville Boys and Girls each feature the experiences and emotions of a different neighborhood child. Children reading this collection will appreciate finding themselves in the characters, while adults can reminisce about their own childhoods. Gwendolyn Brooks creates entire worlds in just a few lines, and it’s easy to picture the events of the poems. Faith Ringgold’s bold lines and colors add to the overall feel of the collection.