Creativity - Softcover

E.B. Lewis's watercolor paintings appear in BIG BOY and many other picture books. The recipient of a Coretta Scott King Honor for Illustration, he lives in Folsom, New Jersey.

Grade 3-5. When a boy named Hector joins Charles's class, Charles finds the new boy's dark skin and straight hair confusing. How can Hector speak Spanish, be Puerto Rican, and have the same skin color as Charles, who is African American? This confusion sparks discussion about shared heritage and language. When Charles decides he will teach Hector English, his parents remind him that his English isn't exactly perfect?in fact, it is most definitely original. This is where the title comes in. As their friendship grows, Charles protects Hector from being teased by giving him a pair of used but in-style sneakers, a true sign of friendship because, "In this neighborhood you got to have the right sneakers 'less you want to get laughed at." In return, he receives a not-so-stylish palm-tree shirt, but it's a gift he deems "very creative" and is proud to wear. Unfortunately, the tone is pedantic and the writing is wordy and stiff. Still, much of the story is right on target. This posthumous work displays a genuine understanding of a gently blossoming friendship between two boys, and children will encounter real-life issues and situations that many will recognize from personal experience. Lewis's watercolor illustrations are well executed and capture the boys' emotions at just the right moments. Not great but certainly worth noting.?Alicia Eames, Brooklyn Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.