(2) PS Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher. Malaika, a recent transplant to Canada, continues to grapple with her changing family and settle into her new community in this third entry. Malaika is playing carnival (the Caribbean cultural festival introduced in Malaika's Costume, rev. 5/16) with her white stepsister Adèle when another recently arrived, brown-skinned immigrant girl in the neighborhood catches her attention. Malaika comforts the homesick Malayka (who speaks English and Arabic), and the two become fast friends. Meanwhile, Malaika learns surprising news--her Black Caribbean mother and white French-Canadian stepfather are expecting their first baby, due to arrive around Malaika's birthday. At first she feels threatened by the idea of a new family member, but after learning a thing or two from life's little surprises, she comes to appreciate the big ones. Luxbacher's softly smudged mixed-media collages reflect the colorful meeting of worlds inherent in our protagonist's intercultural, multilingual family and capture the tender possibilities of starting over in a new country. Narrated in Malaika's signature voice--a blend of Caribbean patois and standard English--this outing delivers the cultural poise of the previous two books while introducing new themes of empathy and sibling jealousy. Front matter includes a glossary of Arabic, Caribbean, and French words. A warm portrayal of a loving, close-knit community, this is a refreshing alternative to immigrant stories that highlight traumas and cultural conflicts.

Reviewer: Summer Edward | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher. Malaika's (Malaika's Costume) Mummy returns to the Caribbean with her French Canadian fiancé and his daughter. When the mixed-race family returns to Québec, Malaika has trouble adapting to her new sister, climate, and school, and the winter carnival is nothing like Carnival back home. Video-chatting with Grandma helps Malaika embrace her situation. Mixed-media illustrations vibrantly capture both settings and the blended family's love. Glos.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher. Preparing for her first Carnival celebration since Mummy moved from their Caribbean town to Canada to find work, Malaika rejects the idea of reusing Granny's old costume and comes up with her own idea. The bright mixed-media illustrations are filled with stylized images of Caribbean life. With text in the little girl's colloquial voice, readers will quickly feel part of her circle. Glos.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher. Theo is intrigued by her globe-trotting grandfather's trunk filled with pictures, postcards, maps, and menus. For Poppa's birthday, she suggests she and Poppa make a plan, draw a map, and travel by streetcar to explore the seaside. Colorful, multi-patterned mixed-media illustrations chronicle this intergenerational adventure that emphasizes the gift of being in the moment with loved ones.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher. Theo's Poppa no longer has a garden when he moves from his house to an apartment. Instead, grandfather and granddaughter paint one outside on a large canvas on his balcony. The lively pen, ink, and collage illustrations reflect the story's loving intergenerational relationship and show step-by-step how the two cultivate their imaginations.

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