B my name is boy A song of celebration from Australia to Zimbabwe

K-Gr 4--This book takes a global tour with a structure of two compound sentences for each letter of the alphabet, which in turn corresponds with a country (mostly) starting with that letter and then an action that does, too. Most pages follow the same template: "A, my name is ARCHIE, and my brother's name is ARLO. We come from AUSTRALIA, and we can ADVOCATE." (Neither Arlo nor Archie are Indigenous.) Cooper from Canada camps. Thobias from Tanzania teaches. And SiXto from MeXico eXplores. These sentences are accompanied by charming illustrations of people doing the activities described. The environments appear to match the country named, and people of a wide variety of skin tones and physical abilities are depicted. However, almost all the characters have the same slim frame, and everyone's faces--even the adults with beards--are virtually identical: long eyelashes, rosy cheeks, and full red lips. A separate volume about girls is available. A final page prompts readers to share their names and what they can do. A map at the back shows where the characters are from, with a key matching the location to the country name. VERDICT It's not meant to be a serious world tour, but random, almost thoughtless choices make this a less-than-essential purchase.--Chance Lee Joyner

Ready to meet some new international friends? Following in the footsteps of Masi's G My Name Is Girl (2021), this companion title focuses on two male characters for each letter of the alphabet. The formula is similar to that of its predecessor, in that a child and a companion--a sibling, a friend, or an older family member--are introduced, their country of origin is named, and they explain what they can do, accompanied by muted, pleasant artwork. For example, "Q my name is QABIL, and my classmate's name is QAMAR. We come from QATAR, and we can QUESTION." (Readers and caregivers familiar with the jump-rope game will immediately catch on.) Like the earlier book, this one stumbles a bit on X, as the letter appears in the words but isn't the initial letter. This often encountered alphabet-book issue aside, the story is a useful tool for caregivers and educators looking to both introduce geography to readers and challenge youngsters to reconsider the roles boys and men play in their communities--these diverse male characters "soothe," "reconcile," "nourish," and "embrace." If there's ever a third installment, hopefully it will show boys and girls playing together and will do something to help nonbinary children feel seen. A simplified world map in the back identifies the countries by a letter and the face of the boy from that region. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An amusing alphabet book that makes the world seem friendlier. (Picture book. 5-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.