FICTION

It’s Okay, Just Ask

by Monique Leonardo Carlos (text) & illus. by Salini Perera
Owlkids. Oct. 2024. 32p. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781771476140.
COPY ISBN
Gr 1-4–A young girl is encouraged to embrace her curiosity by her mother’s frequent reminder: “It’s okay, just ask.” As she and her family pack up their house to move, she asks questions like, “Will we ever come back?” and later, on the airplane, “Are you okay?” Sometimes the answers are unclear, and sometimes they aren’t what she hopes to hear, but that’s okay. In their new, predominantly white neighborhood, she asks, “Why is my hair black?” and her mother’s response only deepens her curiosity: “That’s how you were made.” The soft, colorful illustrations create a warm, inviting atmosphere, complementing a story that highlights a loving family open to communication.
VERDICT A resonant, compelling addition to library collections.
Reviewed by Kirsten Caldwell , Dec 06, 2024

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