Today's read was released last week, but I simply wasn't able to squeeze it in until now. It comes from the hand of an award winning author, which already perks interest, but the cover also had me curious. The smiling faces are very inviting, and I have a feeling that the artwork might be a treat.
Let's open this one up and see what it's about!
FACE TO FACE
by Dinah Johnson
Illustrated by Kayla Mahaffey
HarperCollins
Picture Book
40 pages
ages 4 to 8
Celebrated Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor winning author, Dinah Johnson (H is for Harlem), and debut artist, Kayla Mahaffey, present a joyful, empathetic and gorgeously illustrated ode about the power of connecting with someone face to face.
What happens when you come face to face with someone new?
Do you wonder what they’re thinking? Maybe they’re worried. Maybe they’re daydreaming.
Maybe they’re a new friend just waiting to be made…
MY TIDBITS
These pages celebrate connecting with others, especially when seeing a new face for the first time. With tons of atmosphere, the moments of approaching, watching, and meeting others are presented. Every greeting...every glance holds a subtle magic, which these pages embrace and let visually unfold. The text dances in and out with lyrical support to make each moment understandable and clear, but it's the illustrations which truly bring this book to life.
Every page is like a mini-snapshot of a meeting. Sometimes, it's just a child playing alone. Other times, it showcases two or more children interacting in a focused situation such as watching a frog. At times, it's a single moment, while others add a couple pages to create a tiny meeting. The backdrop remains outdoors, giving a familiar park setting so that listeners can sink in right away. Even the children's activities are kept simple, and many are only presented with their beautiful faces. All of this works very well, since it's not about the activities but the emotions...hesitations, curiosity, wonder.
This is an atmospheric read, which will work better for some listeners than others. But it does a masterful job at luring interested listeners in. While the first page or two had me wondering if it would move too slowly and be too obscure, the scenes bring those first moments of meeting new people across nicely and grab much more than I thought they might. And there's something about each smiling face, which draws in. There is a little message about reaching out to others even unsure or a bit insecure, which adds another, pleasant level as well.
And here they are...
Dinah Johnson is the author of Black Magic, Hair Dance!, All Around Town: The Photographs of Richard Samuel Roberts, H Is for Harlem, and several other books. She is a professor of English at the University of South Carolina. You can catch up with Dinah at www.dinahjohnsonbooks.com.
Kayla Mahaffey was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, where she strengthened her skills and painted stories influenced by her childhood experiences. She attended the American Academy of Art and studied Illustration, and during her courses, Kayla found her colorful style and furthered her passion for the arts. When she is not creating artwork, Kayla loves trying new recipes, visiting museums, and hanging out with her family, friends, and pets. You can visit her at www.kaylamahaffey.com
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