Author: Quiara Alegria Hudes
Illustrator: Shino Arihara
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Published 2010
This is a real-life ABC book that does not “candy-coat” reality. For instance, “B” is for broken bottles which are on the streets and alleys of the Barrio. “G” is for graffiti right beside the subway grate. And yet, it doesn’t create a sense of sadness for the reader. Many of the letter relationships are very positive like M standing for muralists who decorate the walls and V is for vegetable plots that used to be a vacant lot. It is just a truly honest look at a part of town where high class does not exist.
Any child in any neighborhood would appreciate this book. Present this book during any storytime that deals with the alphabet or city living. It would be fun to pair this book with It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr in order to make a statement that even those who live in the areas of town that are a little run down live productive lives.
I have never seen a picture book that is quite as honest as this ABC book. It would have been easy for the author to find some things that are a little more mainstream than some of the things she chose to highlight. But what would you expect from the author of the Tony Award-winning musical, In the Heights? I did not realize this famous composer was the author until I was nearly finished writing this review. Very cool!
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