One Girl by Andrea Beaty, Dow Phumiruk
Published by Harry N. Abrams on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 141971905X
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

A book can be a spark that flickers and grows, especially for one who has not had access to them. Readers who have experienced this will find familiarity with the feeling of having a book become “Brighter. Brighter. Brightest bright.” 

Beautiful illustrations (Dow Phumiruk) show the main character surrounded with other children and details many possibilities of what books & reading can open our minds to.  Although this seems aimed at a particular segment of an unnamed group there is a wide variety of ethnic/races shown in her class – perhaps the range of appearances are to represent all children? Sparse text flows across each page loaded with figurative phrases to explore.

Younger children may simply enjoy the illustrations. This could be used to initiate a discussion on equality for girls in education, but it feels like a fictional “Malala” and may need explanation on how a book can be a spark to ignite a passion for learning. If I were a boy, I might ask, “Can’t boys be “Brighter. Brighter. Brightest bright,” too? Which would lead a discussion to come back around to the inequality of education for many girls in other parts of the world.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town