School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2Bright colors and blocky, thickly outlined objects and characters join with a simple overview of the African-American harvest holiday. There is an explanation of the seven principles of Kwanzaa and a pronunciation guide for the African words in the text. This title includes a full-page outline map of Africa, but no countries are identified. The alphabetical format is an effective technique to introduce many words about the holiday to a relatively young audience, for children are likely to encounter words they might not find in other books. "E is for Embe," for example, refers to an African fruit; "G is for Gele," a long narrow strip of cloth wrapped around an African woman's head. Common words are used as well, such as feast, harvest, jewelry, and tales. The vibrant, uncluttered art set against equally colorful backgrounds make this an appealing choice. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
This cheerful celebration introduces readers to the non-religious holiday that honors African Americans and their heritage. Words from 'A' to 'Z' related to Kwanzaa are defined, and paintings notable for their saturated color and appealingly casual line contribute to the warm feeling. A short historical note and a listing of the seven principles of Kwanzaa are also included. From HORN BOOK 1997, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Ford uses each letter of the alphabet to illustrate an aspect of Kwanzaa, in a mix of English and non-English words; phonetic pronunciations are provided for non-English words, but not the language or country of origin. To the familiar--""A is for Africa"" and ""C is for candle""--Ford adds ""L is for lapa"" (a broad piece of cloth that African women wear) and ""M is for Mkeka"" (a special mat for the holiday table). Wilson-Max works with flat, simple shapes boldly outlined in black; these are cheerful and informative, with festive scenes of participants gathering to celebrate the principles of Kwanzaa. Other books cover the holiday more thoroughly, but this is certainly a charming and accessible beginning. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Ages 5^-8. Ford uses the ABCs as a focusing device for introducing children to the African American holiday and some of the objects, ideas, and traditions associated with it. The warm, brightly colored illustrations will immediately draw attention. With objects sharply outlined in black, the pictures make vibrant backgrounds for the letters and corresponding words (u is for ujamaa). Ford introduces a number of words especially associated with the holiday and African culture, but to fill out her alphabet, she also includes such words as neighborhood, candle, and plants, using brief text to relate them (if occasionally somewhat tenuously) to the holiday. Although the book doesn't give a clear-cut view of the celebration, it does give a sense of the joy and pride behind it. --Stephanie Zvirin
