My Neighborhood by Delano Brown is about two Black brothers who describe their neighborhood as they walk through it. Brown’s storytelling is lyrical and reads like a poem or music, adding life and rhythm to the story. Readers will appreciate the positive and engaging view of the neighborhood and the “slice of life” story. 

Educators will appreciate the positive representation, the personalities of all of the members of the neighborhood and how the neighborhood becomes a personality itself, and how the text introduces readers to poetry. With a fair amount of text on each page, this would be a best fit for grades 3-5 and as an introduction to a poetry unit or as a poetry exemplar. The representation and illustrations make it a standout title, but the amount of text and lyrical structure may limit its readership. This would be a good fit for school libraries and libraries serving readers who love poetry, need broader representation, or those who like “slice of life” stories. This was a 3-star read for me. Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner