Book Description
for Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus and Kadir Nelson
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
A meditation on the history, geography, and diverse people of the United States, this oversized picture book relies on visual and word play, leaving its meaning open to interpretation. On one page, the words “white rows” describe an illustration of rows of white covered wagons—or is it white settlers?— crossing the plains. Next to it, the same words accompany an illustration of the red and white stripes of the American flag. Naberhaus also makes use of homophones. “Sew together won nation” is paired with an image of a young white woman stitching an early American flag, while next to it, “so together one nation” accompanies a group of people of many ethnicities, ages, and religions. The sparse text, along with Kadir Nelson’s rich illustrations, invite discussion with children of many ages. (Ages 6-10)
CCBC Choices 2018. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2018. Used with permission.