Makeda Makes a Mountain

Gr 1-2–Makeda loves to make new things, and her inventiveness knows no bounds. When her mother feels the house is getting cluttered, she anounces it’s time to clean up. Makeda has other ideas, though: her old, holey sweater can be made into a toy, and her broken toy teapot can be used for storage. Makeda invites her friend over, followed eventually by her entire class, with their broken things to make new ones, and by the end of the story everyone’s frowns have been turned upside-down. There's lots to appreciate here; Makeda is creative, imaginative, and endlessly positive, while her upcycling will surely inspire readers to breathe new life into their much-loved things. It also boasts a diverse, inclusive cast of characters. Makeda, her family, and most of her friends are Black, and body diversity is shown among her classmates. What it lacks, however, is a strong plot arc to draw readers in. At the beginning, Makeda’s mother is looking to declutter—at the end, everyone is happy and smiling, but adults may still be searching for a lesson about letting go or wondering who will have to deal with the mess of all the broken toys.