The Everlasting Embrace

PreS-Gr 1—While spending a year in Mali, Emanuel decided to write a book that reflected life there. The resulting story follows a young child who observes her surroundings while riding on her mother's back. Connected by the blanket secured tightly around them, mother and child grind grain, greet friends, shop at the market, and enjoy each other's company. While the basic idea is commendable, the narrator's voice sounds more like an adult than a toddler's. For example, the smell of ripe mangoes "draws us onward with the unspoken promise that a treat awaits." The child notes that "my eyes well up and leak tears." Occasionally, a toddler's voice breaks through, such as when Emanuel describes the pair's dance. "Tiptoe. Squat down. Bounce, bounce, bounce." What works consistently are Lewis's paintings, which capture the affection of mother and child, the brightly patterned cloths, the busy market stalls. Emanuel's photos, included with her author statement, reveal similar scenes. Perhaps adults who want to introduce this culture to young children can savor the illustrations and supply their own simplified text.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato