For a Girl Becoming

Reviews / Votes

"Visualizing Indigenous traditions and underlining values of family and interdependence, it's a profoundly loving blessing of a book for anyone in a place of becoming." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "An empowering and fiercely affectionate blessing... Fluid and impassioned... Dynamic and richly layered portraits deftly echo the poem's movement... A standout among affirming picture books, this beatitude-inducing work will quickly become the new go-to baby present. A stunningly illustrated, tender, and tenacious message-a boon to any bookshelf." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "The swirling linework feels like connective tissue unifying the illustrations and accentuating the poetic text. Each spread celebrates Native cultural identity and brings form to the metaphysical. VERDICT A stunningly written and illustrated work of children's literature, and an essential purchase for school and public library collections." -- School Library Journal (starred review) "The book provides authentic depictions of contemporary family and tribal life and reflects the Indigenous value of being in harmony with human and nonhuman relatives; it also connects to the value of being a thoughtful contributor, both at home and in the wider world. Harjo's detail-rich verse and Garcia's lush, mural-like illustrations are steeped in tradition but firmly grounded in today. Details in the illustrations allow readers to immerse themselves in the girl's world, from the Three Sisters in the garden to the rusted-out truck in the yard to the purposefully chosen objects in a teenager's bedroom. Adding even more meaning is the repeated use of rainbow imagery, a symbol widely regarded in Indigenous communities as representing unity and hope." -- The Horn Book Magazine "An inspiring picture book that is perfect for rereading... The lushness and fluidity of Harjo's verse is given shape by Pura Belpre Award winner Adriana Garcia's swirling artwork, which is unrestrained in its vibrant palette and creates a true sense of visual journey that will engage readers of all ages. Touching upon a vast array of experiences-from grief to laughter-For a Girl Becoming is an excellent commemoration of life and all its complex facets." -- BookPage