Marley and the Family Band

PreS-Gr 2–Marley and her family have moved from Jamaica to Delaware. In a new city, they decide to host a concert night at the park where Marley hopes to meet the neighbors and make lots of new friends. The weather has other plans and it starts to rain, causing Marley to worry that the concert might be called off. Marley comes up with the idea to hang umbrellas at the outdoor venue, so people don’t get wet. She realizes that since storms create problems, if they help their neighbors with those problems, they might get some umbrellas in return. Going door to door, they help their neighbors with storm problems like luring a cat off a garage and helping bail out a flooded basement. When they visit the last neighbor, they make the selfless decision of giving their collected umbrellas and rain gear to the neighbor that needs them more. Written by the eldest daughter of Bob and Rita Marley, this is a celebration of family and community. The lovely illustrations depict a supportive community of Black people with varied skin tones from light to dark. This picture book shows readers the importance of helping people in the community and being there for them when they’re in need.