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hmgelo02's review
1.0
It's not often that I come across a children's book that I truly dislike, but [b:Girls Together|22189|Nothing Can Keep Us Together (Gossip Girl, Book 8)|Cecily von Ziegesar|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167343498s/22189.jpg|1596341] fits perfectly into that category. The story itself is good, and important for showcasing the everyday lives of young girls from the projects, as well as the world as seen through their eyes. The illustrations are done in primary colors and beautifully emphasize the story being told.
But the author has chosen to write this book using the vernacular stereotypically spoken by many families and individuals who grow up in and live in the projects: "Ruise know the names of trees. Sycamore have little fuzzy balls that itch like crazy they get on your arm or leg. Pines look like great big Christmas trees, but they mostly in people's yards, so we don't climb them much." While I understand and appreciate the need for books to speak to children from all walks of life - particularly children for whom books are not commonplace within their homes - this book really ruffled my feathers. I believe that the best way to promote a healthy understanding and further use of proper English grammar is to model and use it; I think that [a:Sherley Anne Williams|130289|Sherley Anne Williams|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] missed her opportunity to showcase a typical summer morning with young girls along with how words should be spoken, versus how they actually are.
I read fast enough that I am able to skim ahead and change words and sentences as I need to when reading aloud to my children, but I don't like needing to do so throughout an entire book. This book was not right for our family - I would not borrow it from the library or read it again.
But the author has chosen to write this book using the vernacular stereotypically spoken by many families and individuals who grow up in and live in the projects: "Ruise know the names of trees. Sycamore have little fuzzy balls that itch like crazy they get on your arm or leg. Pines look like great big Christmas trees, but they mostly in people's yards, so we don't climb them much." While I understand and appreciate the need for books to speak to children from all walks of life - particularly children for whom books are not commonplace within their homes - this book really ruffled my feathers. I believe that the best way to promote a healthy understanding and further use of proper English grammar is to model and use it; I think that [a:Sherley Anne Williams|130289|Sherley Anne Williams|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] missed her opportunity to showcase a typical summer morning with young girls along with how words should be spoken, versus how they actually are.
I read fast enough that I am able to skim ahead and change words and sentences as I need to when reading aloud to my children, but I don't like needing to do so throughout an entire book. This book was not right for our family - I would not borrow it from the library or read it again.
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