Written by Andy Glynne
Illustrated by Karl Hammond
Published in 2016
Why we chose this book:
Mixed in with chapter books in our library's Black History Month display were two picture books, including this one. I was glad to find something that was on T's level.
Mom's Review
Young Juliane struggles with life at an orphanage before being reunited with her mother and leaving Zimbabwe.
This was a difficult but positive read for us, with much discussion throughout and after. T asked questions like, "Why did her mom leave?" "Why did she have to drink yucky water?" and "Why is she a fighter?" At the very beginning Juliane explains that her mother had to leave, but she didn't know why. Juliane guesses that people wanted to hurt her. I omitted Juliane's guess when I read the book aloud to T, as he would not understand someone's motivation to hurt another. Otherwise the content was manageable with conversation. T commented that he felt sad when we read it, and he and I talked about what made him sad as well as the positive aspects of the story and its happy ending.
Son's Review
(son age 2 years and 11 months)
Son: Juliane is kind of like a superhero!
Mom: How is she kind of like a superhero?
Son: She solves problems. Superheroes solve problems. That is how she is like a superhero.
Mom: Would you want to be friends with Juliane? Why?
Son: Yeah. Because she is sad.
Mom: How would being friends change that?
Son: happy
When Juliane was reunited with her mom:
Mom: How do you feel now?
Son: Happy, and sad that she cried.
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