The magic callaloo

Per an author's note, Cooke "pays homage to my ancestors and the roads they walked for freedom" in this "Rapunzel"-reminiscent telling. "Long, long ago, Somewhere far, far away," the leaves of a callaloo tree grant wishes to a small village's residents, who "had everything they needed and everything they wanted." When a greedy man from the village desires "ALL for himself," he steals the tree and wishes for extravagances, neglecting the plant until only one leaf remains. When a couple who wish for a child are told where the leaf is, they bravely retrieve it, wishing upon it for a child who is born with "luscious Afro curly locks" that grow "far and wide" under their care. The child--Lou--is kidnapped and exploited for years by the evil man, who cuts her hair until a wise old woman persuades him to let her braid it. The intricate patterns ("marked with tenderness") form a map for Lou to find her way home, where a tiny seed falls from her. Bass's vibrant gouache illustrations conjure a lush and fanciful landscape, befitting this moving work that twines magic, map, and story. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 3--7. (Sept.)

An Afro-Caribbean retelling of "Rapunzel." "Long, long, ago, somewhere far, far, away," in a small village, a callaloo plant grants wishes to those who eat its leaves. A tan-skinned "greedy, selfish man" steals the plant and makes many wishes, accumulating a huge farm, as well as a barbed wire fence and snakes and a dragon to guard the callaloo. Meanwhile, Mister and Missus, a Black couple unable to have children, make their way to the wicked man's abode on the advice of a wise old woman. They eat the last leaf from the withered plant and finally have a baby girl, Lou, who has "luscious Afro curly locks." Seeking revenge, the wicked man kidnaps Lou and forces her to work for him. Many years pass, and the wise old woman offers to braid Lou's hair after years of neglect. A map forms through the braids on Lou's head, which aids her in her eventual return to her parents. Cooke's narrative is lengthy yet absorbing and, along with Bass' colorful, swirly gouache illustrations, evokes the oral storytelling style of classic fairy tales through repetition. In an author's note, Cooke explains how she drew inspiration from the stories of enslaved Africans who used similar hairstyles as means to escape. A vibrant, culturally specific look at a classic fairy tale.(Picture book. 6-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.