Jonathan and His Mommy by Irene Smalls-Hector (1999) Paperback - Softcover

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PreSchool-K-- A young black child and his mother take a walk around their urban neighborhood, turning the trip into a game as they go. Zigzagging, giant-stepping, hip-hopping, racing, and then in slow motion, they wander through the streets and parks. Ballet, crazy crisscross, and reggae finally give way to backward steps to the places they've been until, tired and happy, they take ``Jonathan-and-Mommy steps'' all the way home. The blank-verse text with repetition and rich imagery beautifully creates the sound and rhythm of the commonplace experience. Soft-toned double-page spreads portray an urban panorama that is at once realistic, nonthreatening, and filled with the movement of the imaginative play. The gray cityscape is softened with muted blues, brick reds, and variegated greens, all reflected in the woman's patterned dress and the chalk rainbow drawn by children in the street. The bond between mother and child is evident on every page, making this a great book for one-on-one sharing; the generous visual scope and delightful cadence also make it a wonderful group read-aloud.
- Marie Orlando, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY
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