FICTION

Life Is Beautiful

by Winsome Bingham (text) & illus. by Molly Mendoza
S. & S./Beach Lane. Oct. 2024. 40p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781534469952.
COPY ISBN
Gr 2-4–In first-person narration, a young girl describes the joyous times she spends with Granny Dee in Harlem. The young narrator and her mother briefly mourn when Granny Dee becomes ill, but after her death, here called a “homegoing,” they celebrate her life. The story is tender and lacks sentimentality. It is text heavy, so young readers will likely need to share this book with a trusted adult. However, the vivacious artwork perfectly complements the book’s tone, and the story would stand on its own separate from the text. Pinks, teals, and yellows mirror and convey the mood, with the sadness accented in dark blue. The city is depicted with as much love as the characters and every spread is a masterpiece of composition and color.
VERDICT A substantial addition to any collection, especially those dealing with tough topics.
Reviewed by Chance Lee Joyner , Dec 06, 2024

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BLOGS

Holiday Gift Guide: Six Inclusive MG Fantasies, a guest post by Marieke Nijkamp
by Amanda MacGregor
BOOKS

Gracie Under the Waves
by Park, Linda Sue
BOOKS

Make My Wish Come True
by Lippincott, Rachael & Alyson Derrick
BOOKS

My Weird School Special: Hip, Hip, Hooray! Every Day Is a Holiday!
by Gutman, Dan
BOOKS

Ramadan on Rahma Road: A Recipe Storybook
by Gutta, Razeena Omar & Faaiza Osman
BOOKS

Big Changes for Plum!
by Phelan, Matt
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?