Around Our Way: It’s a Book Birthday!

Every day a good book comes into the world is a day to rejoice. But today, the launch of the debut picture book by our very own Tameka Fryer Brown, makes it even more sweet.

Around Our Way on Neighbors’ Day (Abrams, 2010), illustrated by Charlotte Riley-Webb, is a celebration of a girl’s love for her multicultural community. It’s already winning acclaim. Check out the kudos below and tell a friend.

The Buzz on Around Our Way on Neighbors’ Day:

“As an African American girl bounces around her urban neighborhood celebrating Neighbors’ Day, when everyone comes together for celebration and community bonding, she shares her energetic and enthusiastic observations: “Blue sky, no clouds, / Summer heat, side street, / Whirling, whizzing feet. / Everyone is out to play / Today, around our way.” She is happily surrounded by a multicultural crowd playing double Dutch and basketball, eating ice cream and drinking sour lemonade, debating in the barber shop, and playing chess in the park; and as the day and the block party progress, there is more food, music, laughter, and friendship. The acrylic art is saturated with rich color, energetic movement, and abstract figures and shapes, all reminiscent of Jacob Lawrence’s art. Most scenes are double-page spreads that, together with the words, demonstrate the size and diversity of a joyful world.”

— Booklist

“‘Blue sky, no clouds, / Summer heat, side street, / Whirling, whizzing feet. / Everyone is out to play / Today, around our way.’ It’s a sunny, summer day—perfect for a block party. A pig-tailed protagonist heads home after double Dutch and dancing to help Momma cook. On her way she encounters some familiar sights: Grandpop at the barber’s, Raven painting a mural, a ball game at the center. In this lively and accessible poem, a multicultural community brings food, music and laughter to the streets to celebrate their neighborhood . . .”

— Kirkus

You can read Tameka’s Writers Against Racism (WAR) interview featured on Bowllan’s Blog here.

Check out her post on Ripples from the Tide Pool here.

You can fan Tameka on FaceBook here.

To find out more about Tameka and her books, please visit www.tamekafryerbrown.com