School Library Journal Starred Review (Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

K-Gr 2 This story celebrates the beauty and joy of the community seen through a child's eyes. Africville was a Black community in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that was settled during the American Revolutionary War, and provided a haven for those fleeing slavery during the War of 1812. Despite its rich history and equal contributions to taxes, the residents of Africville were denied equal services and the community was treated as a literal dumping ground, culminating in forcible relocation and its razing in the 1960s. The spirit of the community could not be broken; there is an annual reunion festival, and the City of Halifax has apologized and offered compensation to former residents. The narrator delights in the festivities, from the hills ripe with blueberries to rafting on the pond. There is both pride and longing expressed in the lyrical text, and the vibrant colors and friendly compositions of the oil and pastel illustrations immerse readers in this community. VERDICT This poetic ode to a place lost in time is an excellent choice for general reading and classroom sharing, and a must-purchase regionally. Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN

ALA Booklist (Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

A young girl reminisces about a place of dreams and hope: Africville. She takes the reader home with her, "where waves come to rest / and hug the harbor stones," where the scent of freshly baked fruit pies awaits, where children play in fields, go rafting on the pond, and later feast on freshly caught codfish. Through the poem, readers visit this sparkling seaside community that sustains itself through the bounty of nature and the legacy of history. This last element might be lost on younger readers, for whom a fuller context will need to be provided. Grant, Poet Laureate of Halifax, and acclaimed artist Campbell recreate the once-thriving black community of Africville, Nova Scotia. The poem itself will intrigue readers, and fortunately, there are resources provided for those who wish to learn more. Grant's evocative descriptions are perfectly matched in tone and timbre with Campbell's vibrant oil-and-pastel renderings of the town and its residents. This can be paired with Richard Blanco's One Today? (2015) as a mentor text for narrative poetry writing.

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

A young girl relishes a visit to her ancestors' home as evocative text and lush, colorful oil and pastel illustrations bring historic Africville to life. A centuries-old Black community in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Africville was razed in the 1960s (such historical context is appended). An idyllic remembrance of a unique, self-sustaining community that thrived despite being under-served and remained connected even when dispersed by outside forces. Reading list, websites.

Kirkus Reviews

Africville, a historic black community that was located on the shores of Nova Scotia, is described from a child's perspective in this nostalgic picture book. "Take me to the end of the ocean," begins this homage. The artwork, in brightly colored oil and pastel on canvas, combines past and present. The opening spread shows a modern-day black girl arriving at the shore, "where waves come to rest and hug the harbor stones." On shore, family, childhood, and community scenes from historic Africville await her. Some details are easy to imagine, like going to "watch the sea bring us all its treasures" and hearing "stories shared all around me." Others are specific to Africville but evocative of childhood adventure, like meeting at the Caterpillar Tree and "rafting down at Tibby's Pond." Still other details spark curiosity, like blueberry duff and "where my great-grandmother's name is marked in stone." On the final spread, the modern child enjoys an ice cream cone at a reunion, facing out at readers. The endmatter describes a community that was vibrant but neglected, then demolished in the 1960s. The annual reunions initiated in 1983 and the building of a museum echo the note of optimism on the final spread: "where memories turn to dreams, and dreams turn to hope, and hope never ends." The writing is spare but emotional, and the art brings the community to life.A loving tribute to a history that should not be forgotten. (bibliography) (Picture book. 4-7)