(2) PS Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Dubbed the "King of Kindergarten" by his mother, a boy wakes up, brushes his teeth ("Ye Royal Chiclets"), has breakfast with his proud parents, rides the school bus, and has a totally awesome first day of big-kid school. Barnes's direct-address text is lighthearted and reassuring, with its offstage narrator speaking directly to this child and to all rising kindergartners. Brantley-Newton's cartoony mixed-media illustrations surround the brown-skinned protagonist with warmth and comfort.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Cheerful, effervescent, always-smiling Hannah Sparkles narrates her efforts to befriend her reserved new neighbor, Sunny. To Hannah's dismay, her favorite things--flowers, unicorns, pom-poms--don't inspire Sunny at all. When Hannah realizes people "find happiness in different ways," the girls become friends after all. Perky illustrations cleverly reveal Sunny's interests--earthworms, lizards, puddles--before the effusive (sometimes grating) narrative does.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Brown-skinned Mary is an ultra-fashionable girl who commands the spotlight wherever she goes because of her glamorous accessories. She makes-over her fellow Mother Goose Elementary students, but will recess wreck the outfits? The revamped nursery-rhyme characters are diversely portrayed in Brantley-Newton's collaged digital illustrations for this zippy rhyming story with a lesson for young fashionistas: "Sometimes less is more!"

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Zulay, who's blind, is determined to race at Field Day. The straightforward depiction of spunky Zulay and her diverse group of girlfriends--"four best friends who help each other, four best friends who help themselves"--helps this story shine. Brantley-Newton's bright illustrations showcase expressive faces, welcoming readers into a world where the successes and frustrations of being disabled are noted and respected.

Reviewer: Breanna J. MCDaniel

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Born into slavery, Harriet Powers grew up to produce "story quilts" that garnered the attention of post–Civil War collectors. This accessible biography introduces readers to Powers's work and to the struggles faced by slaves before and after the war. Text boxes extend the narrative, as do Brantley-Newton's engaging illustrations. Images of Powers's quilts are featured on the endpapers. Bib.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. In this refreshingly original story, Kameeka is determined to win the title of "Hula-Hoopin' Queen of 139th Street." However, on the day of the contest, she's supposed to help prepare a birthday party for her elderly neighbor, Miz Adeline. The appealing cartoon-style illustrations highlight a strong sense of community in Kameeka's Harlem neighborhood, showing a wide range of distinctive characters and places.

Reviewer: Kathleen T. Horning | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2014

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. A simple story explains how this rallying song for freedom became the watchword for the civil rights movement in the United States, and from there to countries around the world struggling with human rights issues. Lively digital and mixed-media illustrations convey a joyous mood. Although "No single day marks the birth of the song...", a timeline of highlights is included. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) PS Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Bob Marley's daughter adapts the lyrics to his song “Three Little Birds,” reminding a young boy that, despite a mishap or two, “every little thing is gonna be all right.” As usual with the song-as-picture-book gambit, some magic evaporates along with the melody and instrumentation. The mix of what looks like cartoons, realistic drawings, and collage has patchwork-y charm.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. The lyrics to "One Love," by reggae great Bob Marley (the adapter's father), accompany a smiling girl who spends her day participating in a multi-generational neighborhood cleanup and ensuing celebration. Like most lyrics flowed into a picture book format, these are listless on the page, burdening the illustrator to supply the music. Brantley-Newton's pictures have the spirit (if not the depth).

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Growing up poor in Detroit, young Guyton discovered painting (at his grandfather's prompting); as an adult, he incorporated found objects into his art and used his talents to beautify his besieged (by drugs, by bulldozers) neighborhood. It's an amazing, uplifting, ongoing story featuring illustrations--a riot of color, shape, and texture--made with mixed media, i.e., Guyton-style. Bib.

Reviewer: Nell Beram