Publisher Description

In a night of rioting, Daniel and his mother are forced to leave their apartment for the safety of a shelter. "Diaz has not been afraid to take risks in illustrating the story with thickly textured paintings against a background of torn-paper and found-object collage. Without becoming cluttered or gimmicky, these pictures manage to capture a calamitous atmosphere that finally calms. . . . Both author and artist have managed to portray a politically charged event without pretense or preaching."—"The Bulletin"

Author Biography

Eve Bunting was born in Ireland and came to California w Eve Bunting was born in Ireland and came to California w Eve Bunting was born in Ireland and came to California with her husband and three children. She is one of the most aith her husband and three children. She is one of the most aith her husband and three children. She is one of the most acclaimed and versatile children's book authors, with more thcclaimed and versatile children's book authors, with more thcclaimed and versatile children's book authors, with more than two hundred novels and picture books to her credit. Amongan

Review

Winner of the Caldecott Medal
An ALA Notable Children's Book
An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists
A Hungry Mind Review Book of Distinction
A Publishers Weekly Children's Bestseller
A Parents' Choice Award Winner
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

"Diaz has not been afraid to take risks in illustrating the story with thickly textured paintings against a background of torn-paper and found-object collage. Without becoming cluttered or gimmicky, these pictures manage to capture a calamitous atmosphere that finally calms. . . . Both author and artist have managed to portray a politically charged event without pretense or preaching." --The Bulletin

"Monumental." --The New York Times Book Review

"Visually exciting." --Publishers Weekly

"A memorable, thought-provoking book." --The Horn Book

"Outstandingly handsome . . . an excellent vehicle for discussion." --Kirkus Reviews

"[A] powerful story." --School Library Journal

"A remarkable book." --The Hungry Mind Review

"Bunting takes a serious subject . . . and makes it understandable for children." --Instructor

Kirkus US Review

A noted author (Fly Away Home, 1991) brings all her empathy and creative skill to another timely topic: an inner-city riot. Standing well back from their window, Daniel and his mama watch looters steal TVs and break into Kim's market. When it quiets down the two fall asleep, only to be roused: their building is burning, so they escape, through ravaged streets, to a shelter. Though Bunting offers no reasons for the violence, she succinctly describes the mob's psychology. Mama explains, "...people get angry. They want to smash and destroy. They don't care anymore what's right...After a while it's like a game," while Daniel observes, "They look angry. But they look happy, too." The story is rounded out with a touch of reconciliation: Mama has't patronized Kim's market ("...it's better if we buy from our own people") but, after Daniel's cat and Mrs. Kims' make friends at the shelter, the people realize that they, too, could be friendly. Diaz's art - rough-edged acrylic paintings mounted on collages of paper, burnt matches, and materials that might be found blowing on a California street - is extraordinarily powerful. Defined in heavy black, the expressionistically rendered faces are intense with smoky shades and dark, neon-lit color. An outstandingly handsome book that represents its subject realistically while underplaying the worst of its horrors; an excellent vehicle for discussion. (Kirkus Reviews)

Review Quote

Winner of the Caldecott Medal An ALA Notable Children's Book An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists A Hungry Mind Review Book of Distinction A Publishers Weekly Children's Bestseller A Parents' Choice Award Winner A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year "Diaz has not been afraid to take risks in illustrating the story with thickly textured paintings against a background of torn-paper and found-object collage. Without becoming cluttered or gimmicky, these pictures manage to capture a calamitous atmosphere that finally calms. . . . Both author and artist have managed to portray a politically charged event without pretense or preaching."

Details