School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-A modern-day folktale about Cornelius Washington, a real-life figure who was a dynamic street sweeper in New Orleans. The working man, aka Marvelous Cornelius, can be seen doing fun tricks and flips while sweeping the streets of the Quarter. When Hurricane Katrina hits the city, Cornelius is overwhelmed by the cleanup, but volunteers come from everywhere to help. He soon finds his NOLA spirit and begins cleaning again in the aftermath of the great storm. Parra's paintings are modern and fresh, with bright colors paired with repetition of phrases and sounds. Children will enjoy both listening to the story read aloud as well as poring over the beautiful pages to learn about a slice of New Orleans history. VERDICT A stirring story of resilience in the face of adversity.-April Sanders, Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Here's a new tall-tale hero: Cornelius Washington, a sanitation worker in New Orleans pre- and post-Katrina. Washington assumes mythical characteristics as a joyous worker and inspiration of the massive cleanup effort after the hurricane. The rhythmic text adopts a storyteller's voice, while the folk art illustrations support the spirit of the narrative. An author's note and pronunciation guide enrich the presentation. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
An almost-true story of a man who loved his job and did it well.In this colorful mlange of fact and fiction, Bildner tells the tale of Cornelius Washington, a sanitation worker who cleans the streets of the French Quarter of New Orleans and performs his job with flair. Cornelius does flips, lobs bags of trash into his garbage truck as if shooting hoops in the gym, makes trash-can lids into cymbals, and entertains locals while making the streets sparkle. Hurricane Katrina changes all of that, leaving trash, death, and decay in its wake, "a gumbo of mush and mud." After weeping for his city, Cornelius joins forces with his neighbors and the waves of people who come to New Orleans post-Katrina from all over to help make New Orleans sparkle once again. Parra's lively, rustic illustrations look textured, as if they were painted on wooden boardsappropriate for a book that depicts only outdoor scenes. Notably, the images of the French Quarter post-Katrina suggest a much more diverse population than those of pre-Katrina New Orleans; perhaps some who came to help stayed. The illustrator fills every page with activity, while the text comments on individual people readers can find if they look.A fine tribute to an unsung African-American hero. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Cornelius is well-known in the French Quarter, where he's happily greeted by passers-by as he hoots and hollers, whizzes and spins, and shouts and strums while cleaning the streets. Colorful, folk-style art, chock-full of detail, captures the locale and matches the descriptive, colloquial language, which is rich with rhythm and onomatopoeia. The setup may feel long, but it emphasizes the vibrant life before Hurricane Katrina and makes the impact of the terrible flood water, water everywhere. A gumbo of mush and mud all the more shocking. Even energetic Cornelius is overwhelmed by the mountain of ruins, but, picking up his spirits, Cornelius digs in, and this time, instead of dancing in his wake, his many admirers pitch in to help clean the debris. Even more come from distant cities, leaving Marvelous Cornelius cheering, although he passes away shortly after Hurricane Katrina. An author's note provides more details about the curious character who lent local flair to New Orleans and became a legend in his own right.--McDermott, Jeanne Copyright 2016 Booklist
