Steve Goes to Carnival

PreS-Gr 2—A collaborative effort between two Australian author-illustrators, one of whom is Aboriginal, from the Walmajarri people, this quirky offering features Steve, a gorilla at a zoo in Rio de Janeiro, in search of his zookeeper friend, Antonio. When Steve sneaks out of the zoo, he finds a large yellow hat and uses it to disguise himself. As he makes his way through Rio, both Steve and readers experience the sights and sounds of the city and the energy and excitement of Carnival. Eventually, Steve finds his friend in a jazz club, and he spends the rest of the night on the dance floor. The illustrations, created in ink and acrylic, are exuberant and vibrant. Bright, bold colors, fluid lines, and lively textures and patterns come together in an abstract, almost childlike style akin to that of Chris Raschka. Back matter incudes a very brief introduction to Carnival, translations for a handful of Brazilian Portuguese words sprinkled throughout, and a note from the artists, who cite as inspiration a "long-distance love affair with the history, architecture, language, music, and food of Rio de Janeiro."