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Vendor
Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
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MY BLOCK LOOKS LIKE

Frank Morrison Janelle Harper

A love letter to the hustle, the bustle, the joy, and the grit of city life by debut author Janelle Harper, and two-time Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner, Frank Morrison.
A lyrical and proud picture book that recognizes the beauty of the bodegas, subways, and playgrounds that characterize everyday life in the Bronx and pays homage to the ways that its residents have shaped pop culture through music, visual art, and dance. Perfect for fans of Last Stop on Market Street, My Block Looks Like offers kids a reaffirming message to celebrate and uplift their communities in an energetic text that begs to be read aloud.

Janelle Harper is a Bronx native who proudly carries her New York accent anywhere she goes. She finds inspiration in city living and the diverse experiences of the African Diaspora. When she is not enjoying the hiddens gems of the Bronx, she is traveling and exploring new cultures. She is a proud veteran public school teacher who comes from a long line of educators. She is passionate about creating stories that reflect the children in her Bronx classroom and neighborhood. When she's not thinking about her next book, Janelle can often be found in her dance studio, blasting music, yelling "five-six-seven-eight," and preparing elaborate student productions. Visit her online at JanelleHarperAuthor.com.

Frank Morrison started his journey as a graffiti artist in New Jersey, tagging walls with spray paint. It wasn't until he visited the Louvre Museum in Paris with his dancing group that he realized painting was his true creative path. His work has been featured at Art Basel, SCOPE Art Show, and Red Dot Miami art fair, and shown at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City and the Mason Fine Art gallery in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the illustrator of over twenty children's books, including the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winners Standing in the Need of Prayer and R-E-S-P-E-C-T, the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award winner Jazzy Miz Mozetta, and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor books Little Melba and Her Big Trombone and Let the Children March. Frank was a Society of Illustrators' Original Art Silver Medal Honoree two years in a row, for The Roots of Rap and R-E-S-P-E-C-T. His debut author-illustrated picture book is Kick Push. Visit him online at MorrisonGraphics.com.
Available products
Book

Published 2024-01-02 by Viking Books for Young Readers

Book

Published 2024-01-02 by Viking Books for Young Readers

Comments

Kinetic, portrait-filled art from Morrison reveals the neighborhood's sights, vibrantly conveying the essence of the protagonist's home: "my city/ my hood/ my block. My home/ my village/ my family/ my friends/ my soul."

The artist's careful attention to detail and the shifting visual perspectives in action scenes bring Harper's musical text to life... A culturally rich and beautifully illustrated child's-eye view of home.

Morrison paints vibrant spreads with details of the buildings, people, graffiti, and spirit of the Bronx. The poetic text reads like a song and makes for a perfect read-aloud story. While many readers might not be familiar with the streets depicted in the book, they can compare their own neighborhoods and find what they have in common as well as what makes their streets unique... A positive and uplifting book that can be appreciated by all readers, no matter where they live.

[V]ibrant ... Morrison's illustrations provide rich sensory detail and energy to support the narrator's observations.At the same time, words and images work collectively to challenge readers to slow down and pay attention to the wonders of city life that are easy to misunderstand or dismiss.Harper's block (she hails from the Bronx) is alive, aptly called "my soul," and -supported by Morrison's images and warm colors, a refreshing invitation to visit or imagine this vivid, memorable place.

Dynamic details and an expansive sense of possibility... A caring depiction of urban life that will resonate with listeners who love the bustling energy and beauty of the place they call home.

The illustrations capture the fluid movement as the protagonist literally dances through graffiti-art-adorned streets... inspired by Harper's own experiences as an educator and dance teacher... Perhaps most poignant is the book's message that no matter where one goes, their block in the Bronx will always be with them, and it will always be "the coolest place [they've] ever been".