While We’re Here by Anne Wynter, Micha Archer
Published by Clarion Books ISBN: 0063238292
Genres: Cultural / African American, Family Life, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

An African American mom and daughter are rushing to get somewhere in the first half of the book . . The suspense builds with the repeated refrain, “Hurry, hurry.” The reader wonders where they are going, only to be empathetically disappointed when they arrive to discover the party was yesterday. However, now that they have nowhere to be they can take a more leisurely trip back home and stop to enjoy things along the way. This book covers the gambit of emotions using mostly simple two-lined text. Archer’s brilliant collage art sets the characters against vibrant greens and blues in the city setting. This book will be a wonderful read aloud at story time. It’s message is relatable for everyone.

Nominated for Cream of the Crop

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library