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  • Published: 6 February 2024
  • ISBN: 9780593526309
  • Imprint: Viking
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 40
  • RRP: $39.99

My Block Looks Like





A love letter to the hustle, the bustle, the joy, and the grit of city life by debut author and Bronx native, Janelle Harper, and two-time Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner, Frank Morrison.

A love letter to the hustle, the bustle, the joy, and the grit of city life by debut author and Bronx native, Janelle Harper, and two-time Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner, Frank Morrison.

"My block looks like
a collision of cultures
a melting pot of cool
a burst of life
my favorite groove

. . .No matter what happens
I’ve seen it for myself
my block looks like
the coolest place
I’ve ever been."

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 I Am Every Good Thing and 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.

  • Published: 6 February 2024
  • ISBN: 9780593526309
  • Imprint: Viking
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 40
  • RRP: $39.99

Praise for My Block Looks Like

Praise for My Block Looks Like by Janelle Harper and Frank Morrison:

*"The artist’s careful attention to detail and the shifting visual perspectives in action scenes bring Harper’s musical text to life. The narrator argues convincingly for the Bronx as 'the coolest place I’ve ever been,' where 'dreams rise higher than the smog' and neighbors 'sparkle under streetlamps.' A culturally rich and beautifully illustrated child’s-eye view of home." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*"Kinetic, portrait-filled art from Morrison (Breaking to the Beat!) reveals theneighborhood’s sights (double Dutch, the Icee man, pickup games), vibrantly conveying the essence ofthe protagonist’s home: “my city/ my hood/ my block. My home/ my village/ my family/ my friends/ my soul." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "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." --The Horn Book, starred review

"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." --BCCB Reviews
"Morrison paints vibrant spreads . . . The poetic text reads like a song and makes for a perfect read-aloud story . . . A positive and uplifting book that can be appreciated by all readers." --School Library Journal

Praise for Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner, Frank Morrison:

*"The award-winning author-illustrator team of Weatherford and Morrison have taken on the life story of the Queen of Soul, and the result is a beautiful work of art." --Booklist, starred review of RESPECT: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul by Carole Boston Weatherford and Frank Morrison

*"Richly illustrated." --The Horn Book, starred review of Standing in the Need of Prayer by Carole Boston Weatherford and Frank Morrison

“Morrison's energetic, brightly hued paintings are rendered in his signature urban mannerist style that also incorporates graffiti and abstract contemporary techniques . . . and the message of being true to yourself and your passions will please young readers.” ―Booklist on Kick Push by Frank Morrison

“A beautifully illustrated book about the exhilaration of being yourself." --School Library Journal on Kick Push by Frank Morrison

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