Review by Booklist Review
Together with her Abuelo and Pup, Sofia loves to help those in her neighborhood, but when Abuelo falls and hurts himself at the local landfill, she rallies support from her neighbors in order to turn the landfill into a park. Sofia takes her proposal to City Hall, but she struggles to find her voice, until she remembers why she is there in the first place. With support from her community and new friends, her dream for a neighborhood park comes to life. Roberts' detailed watercolor illustrations conjure the various unique characters that are part of Sofia's world, as well as Sofia's ambition and desire to help those around her. Beaty keeps to the formula that has made her Questioneers series such a success, and her rhyming couplets convey both the anxiety and worries Sofia has, along with her spirit and courage. An inspiring story about how one voice can make a difference and how people can come together not just for something good but for something even better.--Selenia Paz Copyright 2020 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Sofia Valdez proves that community organizers of any age can have a positive impact. After a trash-heap eyesore causes an injury to her beloved abuelo, Sofia springs into action to bring big change to her neighborhood. The simple rhymes of the text follow Sofia on her journey from problem through ideas to action as she garners community support for an idyllic new park to replace the dangerous junk pile. When bureaucracy threatens to quash Sofia's nascent plan, she digs deep and reflects that "being brave means doing the thing you must do, / though your heart cracks with fear. / Though you're just in Grade Two." Sofia's courage yields big results and inspires those around her to lend a hand. Implied Latinx, Sofia and her abuelo have medium brown skin, and Sofia has straight brown hair (Abuelo is bald). Readers will recognize Iggy Peck, Rosie Revere, and Ada Twist from Beaty's previous installments in the Questioneers series making cameo appearances in several scenes. While the story connects back to the title and her aptitude for the presidency in only the second-to-last sentence of the book, Sofia's leadership and grit are themes throughout. Roberts' signature illustration style lends a sense of whimsy; detailed drawings will have readers scouring each page for interesting minutiae.Fun but earnest, this rhyming romp reminds readers that one young person can make a difference. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
