Review by Booklist Review
In this sumptuous and necessary book, the alphabet is not merely an organizational framework; it is also a metaphor. The past, present, and future artists and residents of Harlem are as foundational to American culture as letters are to words. As would be expected, each page features an aspect of Harlem that corresponds to a letter of the alphabet. There are familiar icons, such as the Apollo Theater, the Harlem Globetrotters, and the National Jazz Museum. And there are other noteworthy landmarks--some old, some more recent--such as Impact Farm, a series of urban community farms that have changed the landscape of Harlem, and Liberation Bookstore, whose name precludes explanation. Other letters are used to represent the human essence of Harlem: "K is for kinfolk," "V is for voices," "H is for a heart still beating strong." Each featured aspect of Harlem is summed up precisely in a single paragraph--mostly of factual information, though suffused with the authors' appreciation--that should inspire readers to want to know more. Harrison's mixed-media illustrations are meant to be savored for their layers of detail. Light seems to shine through these stunning, vibrant pages. Would that the English alphabet had more than 26 letters so that H Is for Harlem could have then been longer.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
From "A is for Apollo Theater" to "Z is for Zora Neale Hurston," this jam-packed abecedarian tribute to the famed New York neighborhood highlights significant persons and locations of its storied history and present day. "D is for Dance Theater of Harlem" recounts the creation of Arthur Mitchell's studio in the wake of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination ("The dancers represent Harlem with grace and power and energy"). Other entries highlight the Harlem Globetrotters, Malcolm X Boulevard, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and--via "V is for Voices"--Harlem's varied inhabitants, "from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Charleston, South Carolina; from Paris, France, and Accra, Ghana; from Brooklyn, New York, or around the corner." Harrison's arresting mixed-media illustrations render the abundant cast of important figures and myriad, unique surroundings in lifelike shades, lush textures, and generous dimensions, showing, as Johnson writes, that "Harlem is a place like no other in the world." Includes an author's note. Ages 5--9. (July)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4--The cultural riches of Harlem are innumerable--its museums, community centers, performance spaces, restaurants, and bookstores are all icons of Black experience in the U.S. Harlem's triumphs, past and present, unfold in this alphabetic exploration and explosion of major landmarks, people, sports, and the arts, leaving no doubt that Harlem's impact on the American ethos reverberates far beyond 125th Street. Johnson describes the locale as being called the "mecca of Black America, a place where African American culture is living and breathing, shining and indestructible." Whether focused on a person, a place, or something more abstract like kinfolk, each entry weaves in just the right amount of information to build a broader understanding of what Harlem was and is. Johnson keenly incorporates more minor letter-specific highlights when the opportunity arises, broadening the work's informational scope. The text is illuminated with patchwork illustrations that play with texture, scale, and perspective in quilt-like dissonance. Harrison's artistic hand oscillates between naivete and realism, and the complexity of her illustrations will have young readers poring over the details. She brings an uptown cool vibe to even small grace notes, like the hand-lettering of street signs, the slant of the awnings and marquees, and the colors of the buildings, as diverse as the residents themselves in this historic village-within-a-city. VERDICT An ode to the beating heart of African American culture with remarkable depth and breadth. This title is a celebration of Harlem's vibrancy, dynamism, and significance.--Sarah Simpson
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Review by Horn Book Review
This engaging and beautiful alphabet book features and celebrates not only Harlem's history, including the Harlem Renaissance, but also contemporary figures and iconic places that bridge Harlem's past and present. From the Apollo Theater, Harlem Children's Zone, and The Brownies' Book to food, sports, and the arts, there is something here to spark any of a wide range of interests. Equal parts love letter and travelogue, this book is a virtual trip through the sights and sounds of one of New York City's most iconic neighborhoods. Harrison's (What Is Given from the Heart, rev. 1/19) vibrant paint and collage illustrations are equally adept at representing the historical and the contemporary. Every inviting spread is alive in color, detail, and respect for the subject matter. This book is a starting point to learn more about one of the most important artistic, cultural, and intellectual incubators of Black culture in the United States. What a splendid way to learn the alphabet! Monique Harris July/August 2022 p.90(c) Copyright 2022. 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
An alphabetic journey through Harlem, past and present. Beginning with "A is for Apollo Theater" and ending with "Z is for Zora Neale Hurston," this historically rich picture book highlights the significant people, places, works of art, memorable publications, and more that have long made Harlem a hub of Black culture. Some letters focus on well-known institutions, such as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and the Harlem Globetrotters. Others shed light on lesser-known individuals like Mabel Fairbanks and Sharon Cohen, who created a pathway for Black youth to learn figure skating, and Impact Farm, an organization that has turned abandoned lots into thriving urban gardens. Harrison's stunning, colorful, highly textured illustrations complement and expand upon Johnson's textual snapshots, which offer just enough detail to encourage children to deepen their knowledge of Harlem. Johnson also gives a nod to other children's picture-book creators by spotlighting Bryan Collier, whose award-winning picture book Uptown celebrates Harlem. This is a beautiful and welcome celebration of Black joy. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A gem that whets the appetite to learn more about a city where art is as alive as the people who live there. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
