Me and the Boss

September 5, 2022
“I know big sisters,” Lee says. “Zora, the boss, she’s mine. I go wherever she goes, and we are always home before dark. Those are the rules.” At their local library, the siblings, portrayed as Black, learn embroidery; Zora sews a flower that earns compliments from their parents, whereas Lee makes a “mess” and discovers a hole in his pocket. When Lee wakes in the middle of the night, the quiet and lack of oversight grant him the space to practice what he’s learned: he embroiders a smiling moon, mends the hole in his pocket, and reattaches a missing ear to Zora’s stuffed bear. The final act results in a big hug and thanks from Zora... before she orders him to get ready for another outing. “I fixed her bear, and she’s back to being the boss,” Lee’s wry first-person narration reads. In collage, acrylic, and pen and pencil art, Harrison (Nana Akua Goes to School) focuses on settings that range from the public and communal to the private and personal. Edwards (A Hat for Mrs. Goldman) highlights the funny, loving sibling dynamic—as well as the triumph of learning and applying a brand-new skill. Craft instructions conclude. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Lori Kilkelly, LK Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Regina Brooks, Serendipity Literary.

September 1, 2022
Six-year-old Lee and his big sister Zora, a.k.a. "the boss," take an embroidery class at the library. (Lee isn't really old enough, but Zora fibs to get him in.) Lee learns to thread a needle, jabs his finger, and laboriously creates...a mess. When they get home, Zora shows their parents the fine flower she embroidered; Lee says his project is a surprise, knowing he has more to do. In the middle of the night he gets to work, slowly and patiently stitching until he makes a smiling moon. With newfound confidence, he repairs his pants pocket and, in the morning, Zora's teddy bear. Edwards's (A Hat for Mrs. Goldman, rev. 9/16) spare text is powerful in its simplicity, conveying the love between a brother and sister; the determination of a small child to learn a new skill; and the threads that hold embroidered flowers, smiling moons, a Black family, and their community together. Harrison's (H Is for Harlem, rev. 7/22) folk-art style, which employs collage, acrylic, pens, and pencils and a lush, colorful palette, is the perfect complement to Lee's first-person narration. Back matter includes step-by-step instructions for making Lee's smiling moon. A wonderful read-aloud for home, the library, and the classroom. Dean Schneider

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from October 1, 2022
Grades K-3 *Starred Review* Six-year-old Lee follows two rules: he goes wherever Zora, his big sister, goes, and they must return home before dark. Attending a library program, they sit at a table while the librarian hands every other child some thread, cloth, and a needle. "Lee needs one," Zora tells her, "He looks small, but he's almost 8." The librarian teaches them how to sew, but Lee keeps pricking his finger. At home that evening, Zora shows her stitching to their parents, but Lee hides his. Working on it late that night, he completes the project. He even mends the hole in his pants pocket and sews the ear back on Zora's teddy bear, earning a hug from his sister, aka the boss. The illustrator of Nana Akua Goes to School (2020) and H Is for Harlem (2022), Harrison has created intensely colorful mixed-media collages to portray this supportive Black family and the strong bond between brother and sister. There's a welcome lack of sentimentality about the story. Zora is a strong, dependable person in Lee's life, but he has the drive to persevere with sewing until he can do it on his own, winning her respect. His quiet, first-person narrative uses simple phrases that read aloud well. A captivating picture book.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from November 1, 2022
A young Black boy discovers the joy of sewing on a trip to the local library with his big sister. It's clear why 6-year-old Lee calls his elder sister, Zora, the boss. Zora embodies confidence: She gives directions to Lee and others and enforces the rules they must both follow when out and about away from home. One day, Lee walks with Zora to a local library, where they are taught to sew. Zora takes to sewing easily, while Lee struggles to avoid pricking himself with the needle and to create what he desires. When the children return home, Zora proudly shows her creation to their parents, but Lee chooses to wait to show them his work. Later that night, awakened by a noise and unable to sleep, Lee practices sewing in the quiet of his bed and completes the craft from earlier in the day, developing a useful skill that later ushers in a tender moment between him and the boss. Appropriately reminiscent of textiles, the collage, acrylic, pen, and pencil illustrations consist of a variety of vibrant hues. The imagery offers depth, texture, and movement, complementing the vivid and engrossing text and bringing to life the strong bond between Lee and Zora. Lee's family is Black; the other kids at the library are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Though simple, a gorgeous, powerful exploration of a loving sibling relationship. (instructions for making Lee's Smiling Moon) (Picture book. 5-8)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2022
Six-year-old Lee and his big sister Zora, a.k.a. "the boss," take an embroidery class at the library. (Lee isn't really old enough, but Zora fibs to get him in.) Lee learns to thread a needle, jabs his finger, and laboriously creates...a mess. When they get home, Zora shows their parents the fine flower she embroidered; Lee says his project is a surprise, knowing he has more to do. In the middle of the night he gets to work, slowly and patiently stitching until he makes a smiling moon. With newfound confidence, he repairs his pants pocket and, in the morning, Zora's teddy bear. Edwards's (A Hat for Mrs. Goldman, rev. 9/16) spare text is powerful in its simplicity, conveying the love between a brother and sister; the determination of a small child to learn a new skill; and the threads that hold embroidered flowers, smiling moons, a Black family, and their community together. Harrison's (H Is for Harlem, rev. 7/22) folk-art style, which employs collage, acrylic, pens, and pencils and a lush, colorful palette, is the perfect complement to Lee's first-person narration. Back matter includes step-by-step instructions for making Lee's smiling moon. A wonderful read-aloud for home, the library, and the classroom.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)