Grandpa, Is Everything Black Bad?
Grade 1-4-Montsho, a young African-American boy, is concerned: black cats are bad luck, witches wear black, the bad characters are in black on television, etc. When he poses the question to his Grandpa, "Is everything black bad?" the man reassures his grandson that it isn't so and takes him into a special room that looks like an African kingdom. While beating a drum, he recites a poem that relates their full and rich cultural background. The book ends with Grandpa saying that "the dark color of your skin and your African heritage is a good thing, a very good thing indeed." Eye-pleasing watercolor-and-ink illustrations wash over each page, adroitly depicting the child's concerns, the characters, and the African images. The message is obviously worthwhile and important, but the text is at times heavy-handed. This aside, the title is worth reading and sharing, and will be especially of value in classrooms emphasizing cultural awareness.Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WICopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.