By Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey
Somewhere in the Bayou By Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey One of the special things about this picture book is that it was written and illustrated by two brothers. They said that the story “started as a conversation about assumptions and implicit bias…where someone’s assumption about someone else backfired.” They absolutely succeed in dealing with this big issue in this well illustrated picture book of few words. A swamp setting is perfect for being home to many diverse animals. Four of them, hoping to cross a river via a log, are stymied by the presence of a tail next to this log. Each one has a different assumption about the tail and what to do with it. Is it a sneaky, scary, mean or stuck tail? Should they be quiet or loud or poke or free the tail? When only one animal is left to figure out what to do, he uses his knowledge and ends up helping the alligator who has been caught. Thinking that now he too will be eaten by the alligator and never get across the river, he is surprised by the alligator’s response that, “We’ve become friends, and friends don’t eat friends…” In my mind, this original book is Caldecott Medal Award quality. Using a limited color palette, and printmaking, the Pumphrey brothers have successfully created atmosphere, tension, and humor in their characters and illustrations. The expressive eyeballs of the animals will engage children throughout the book as well as the “wobble, smack and splash” of the river water. This book is worth looking at!
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Author For 29 years I had the best job as School Librarian in the Aaron Kushner Library for grades Pre K-3 at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston. Although I am retired, I remain Lori the Librarian. Archives
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