Review by Booklist Review
The innocence and joy of playground games burst from the pages of this celebration of neighborhood community, self-expression, and Double Dutch. "Asphalt sizzles" beneath a hot sun that casts its golden light on a city neighborhood, where kids are playing on a basketball court. A cry of "Jump in!" cuts through the air, soon joined by the ticktack of jump ropes smacking the ground. At first just girls line up, those "Double Dutch divas" and "sisters of the sidewalk," but then a boy jumps in with impressive "hip-hop tricks." Readers will enjoy the story's playful rhymes, which encourage participation, and they'll also get a kick out of the grandmother and community pastor who show off their own rope-skipping skills. Boisterous, layered illustrations will draw children in, and the art could illicit story extensions, from playground games to mural art. Elaborate painted backdrops show the playground from close-up and birds-eye views, and the vibrant characters boast detailed facial features, hair, and clothing that give the story a feeling of authenticity. This exuberant read-aloud will get kids jumping.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Vibrantly rendered and warmly welcoming, this solo debut from Strickland (Loving vs. Virginia) portrays a lively metropolitan community engaging in a lengthy game of double Dutch. On a warm day shown in textural digital art that's full of light and movement, a group of children with various skin tones gathers on a neighborhood blacktop: "Two becomes four. Four more is eight./ Rock back-and-forth. Don't hesitate." As a reiterative "Jump in!" invites the next person in, fittingly metered, rhyming text describes each participant's jumping style. A joyful bird's-eye view captures the wide smiles of "double dutch divas" the Delancy twins. A page turn later, Leroy Jones sinks a basketball from mid-court before showing off hip-hop moves, flames emanating from sneakers. Soon, "Hold up! Is that Ms. Mable jumpin' in?" sees the elder tossing her purse ("I could teach you a few things about jumpin' in!"), and entering the rhythmic game with a "funky wiggle" that proves long-lived. There's no resisting the ropes' pitter-patter, and as the day stretches out, the ever-changing game invites more people in. It's a celebration of intergenerational community and play whose turns spotlight the strengths of both individuals and an inclusive, supportive, tight-knit community. Ages 4--8. Agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Jan.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
It's a warm day, and a diverse group of children in a city neighborhood heads to the playground, where "asphalt sizzles in wait, / ropes lie in the corner as bait." One child calls out "Jump in!" and kids line up to show their jumping style. Beginning with the Delancey twins (a.k.a. "the Double Dutch divas") and basketball aficionado Leroy Jones, each child brings their own flair as they answer the call. As the day continues, other members of the community jump in, including elder Ms. Mabel ("the queen of hopscotch since [she] was one"). Then "my turn at last!" The narrator finally "can put these schoolbooks down and play." She hits the playground with her skateboard and shows how she jumps in. When the streetlights come on, it is time for everyone to jump out and go home. Brimming with energy, the colorful textured digital paintings enhance the rhyming text. Strickland captures the sheer joy found in community play. Eboni NjokuJanuary/February 2023 p.68 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A high-energy ode to double Dutch and summer days of fun. It's a sizzling morning, and when one freckle-faced, curly-haired, tan-skinned kid yells, "Jump in!" kids of every hue and size come running with balls, with jump-ropes, and with arms and legs ready for moving. When the "Double Dutch divas," the Delancy twins, arrive to jump-rope, their long cornrows go flying as they "Jump over, jump under" and "spin 'round." Next, long-legged basketballer Leroy Jones, with a frohawk and fiery moves, twirls a ball on one finger then jumps in with hip-hop acrobatics…until hip-swinging Ms. Mabel tosses Leroy her purse and exhausts the jump-rope turners with her "funky wiggle" and her cartwheel in the ropes. Lots of neighbors, including the reverend, join in, and the jumping joy permeates the day as Strickland's free-verse poetry turns this tale into a singable jump-rope rhyme. When a skateboard-loving youngster finally joins in after homework's all done, the child takes their dog and board into the ropes. Strickland's innovative low-angle and bird's-eye views and gatefolds that open in various directions give readers expansive vantage points for this day of participatory play, while her colorful and highly textured digitally rendered illustrations, inspired by the Italian futurists, effectively capture the heat, verve, and energy of the city. This city community is a diverse one; most of the named characters present as Black. A moving, grooving snapshot of urban life where kids create the fun and beckon everybody in. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
