Review by Booklist Review
Young readers are transported to the Caribbean in this introduction to its culture and wildlife, conveying protagonist Melba's excitement as her family prepares to celebrate Carnival. From the upbeat music to the vibrant landscape and fresh tropical fruit, Glatt's vivid illustrations portray an exciting paradise, populated by friendly characters, all on their way to Carnival. As Melba goes to see her tonton's band play in the parade, her trip turns into an adventure as she meets and picks up friends along the way--Misyé Francois and his steel pan drum, Kenwin and his rainbow kite, Miss Drina the banana farmer, not to mention a curious mannikou (opossum), two verdant jacquot (parrots), and even a zanndoli (lizard), colored like the Saint Lucian flag. Back matter includes a glossary and guide on Creole pronunciation, as well as more information about Saint Lucia and Carnival. Paul and Glatt's characters sparkle on the page as they add to their group of friends and realize that they, too, can shine in their own parade.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
When a young country girl, Melba, oversleeps and misses her ride to the Carnival parade in town, she sets out to catch the bus, but there's so much to intrigue and excite her on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia that she keeps getting distracted. There's Misye Francois and his steelpan music, Kenwin and his kite, Mrs. Drina and her bananas, and some very friendly animals. Repeatedly missing the bus, Melba ends up walking all the way to town, accompanied by everyone she's met along the way; but disappointment awaits -- the last masquerade band departs just as they arrive. Melba is crushed to have missed the parade until she and her companions realize there's still one masquerade "band" left -- themselves! Glatt's folk-art-style paintings complement this story rooted in the cultural life of a community, and the festive spirit of Carnival comes through vividly in the cacophonously colorful palette. (In what is perhaps an understandable attempt to bowdlerize the often-saucy Carnival costumes for young readers, the illustrations sacrifice some cultural authenticity.) The back matter provides educational information about Saint Lucia and its culture (but fails to mention Carnival's roots in slavery). With Saint Lucian Creole words effectively interspersed throughout the text, Paul's winsome tale provides an accessible introduction to an important cultural tradition. Summer Edward May/June 2021 p.118(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A festive Creole story that will encourage readers to dance, sing, and celebrate Carnival. Melba's excitement for Carnival makes it hard for her to sleep the night before. On her way to the festival, she encounters Misyé Francois, who plays steel pan drums and sings a song about a "crazy mannikou." Melba stops to listen a little too long and misses her bus, and both a mannikou (readers unfamiliar with St. Lucian Creole will recognize this as an opossum from the illustrations) and the drummer follow her to Carnival, as does everyone else she encounters along the way, both human and animal. When Melba nears town, she sees a crowd of brown-skinned St. Lucians dressed in costumes and bright, patterned clothes. Glatt's stylized illustrations portray most characters with reddish-brown skin, long noses, and rosy cheeks; she paints the tropics in deep greens and bright yellows and the cityscape in an array of bright colors. Melba and friends miss the parade but make their own, delighting bystanders. The backmatter bridges cultural gaps by explaining what Creole is, defining the culturally specific language, and explaining where St. Lucia is and what Carnival celebrates, both historically and now. The author's note reveals St. Lucian writer Paul's motivation for creating the book, and Glatt's illustrator's note explains her Brazilian experience of Carnival. Glatt's paint, pencil, and crayon illustrations truly capture the festive spirit of this celebration. A must-have picture book that educates while it thoroughly entertains. (glossary, maps) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
