Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Tyler, portrayed with brown skin and an Afro, has "trouble with words. Long words. Short words. Silly words. All words.... just kept getting... STUCK!" In his thoughts, he knows "exactly what to say and how to say it," including "the real reason why that chicken crossed the road." In his day-to-day, though, "his tongue got tied," leaving him "frustrated... and frazzled...." His mother advises, "Breathe in.... Breathe out.... Let go of all your doubt. You can.... You will.... You're able!" a mantra that, along with practice, bolsters the young artist through a show-and-tell session he's been dreading: sharing a self-portrait. Drawing, per an author's note, from teen activist and artist Gordon's experiences with stuttering, this uplifting work employs humor, rhythmic text, and lively digital illustrations as it moves toward a longed-for moment in which "the crowd went WILD" for the young protagonist. Ages 4--8. (June)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--Teen activist and artist Gordon proves his triple-threat prowess as writer, illustrator, and narrator of his picture book about his speech differences: "This book is dedicated to kids who get tongue-tied. Just know your words are worth the wait." Tyler can't get his words to "come out right." With his mother's help, he learns to "loudly, proudly" use his art and his voice to declare, "This is me." For the most fulfilling experience, a read-along is essential: to pick only print is to miss Gordon's vulnerable narration; to choose just aural means overlooking Gordon's imaginative, humorous art--including his self-portrait cover of his 2021 debut, We Can. Also not in audio (but should be) is Gordon's author's note in which he shares his deafness at birth, the surgery that returned his hearing but caused a stutter, and art as his best therapy. VERDICT Libraries need all formats to share with future artists, activists, and superstars.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Gordon, a teen artist and activist who in 2020 went viral for his painting of then--Vice President--elect Kamala Harris, draws from his own experiences for this story of a child who uses art to express himself. Tyler's words always get "STUCK." "Long words. Short words. Silly words. All words." In his head, Tyler can speak "loudly" and "proudly," tell knock-knock jokes, and "even reveal the real reason why that chicken crossed the road." Yet in reality, "his tongue [gets] tied, and his words just [won't] come out right," a predicament vividly expressed via tangled scrawls and a spread depicting Tyler with a long, loop-laced tongue. Still, Tyler won't give up. His mother encourages him, and together they paint and practice saying "short words, long words, silly words" to describe their work. But at school, his stutter makes it hard for Tyler to find friends; kids stare and laugh when he stammers during show and tell. Again, his mother reassures him. Her ability to understand his paintings, even when they're imperfect, gives Tyler an idea. At the next show and tell, Tyler proudly unveils his self-portrait…and his audience goes "WILD!" Rhythmic, rhyming, and repeated phrases give the text strong read-aloud appeal; Gordon's animated, endearing cartoon illustrations readily convey Tyler's apprehension, determination, and joy. An author's note explains that Gordon was born deaf and acquired a stutter after undergoing surgery to improve his hearing. Tyler and his mom are Black; his classmates are diverse. Energetic and encouraging. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
