Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Zuri Ray loves trying new things but decides ballet camp needs a boost.Zuri Ray, a biracial (Black/White) girl with a curly Afro, loves trying extraordinary things, especially with her friend Jessie Colón, a bespectacled, brown-skinned Latinx girl. Zuri and Jessie take turns choosing activities. But when Jessie chooses a weeklong ballet camp, Zuri is more tolerant than excited. In class, Jessie is a natural while Zuri's arms and legs do not cooperate. Zuri goes home wanting to quit, but her family convinces her to keep trying. Classes don't really improve, so after a pep talk with the teacher, Zuri shakes things up in class, shocking the other students with soccer clothes, loose, puffy hair, and kicks instead of leaps. Jessie is infuriated. When the friends make up, they agree that even though they don't have to like the same things, they can make things fun together. This sweet picture book is a fun departure from the typical ballet story, with an adventurous, sporty protagonist, a markedly diverse class headed by a Black teacher, and a wide array of activities and interests for the best friends to try, together and with family. Sordo's bright, busy illustrations express the characters' personalities and moods with energy and pizzazz. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A refreshing celebration of individuality, friendship, and exploration. (Picture book. 4-8)

School Library Journal Starred Review (Sat May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

K-Gr 3 Radiating warmth and care, Charles ( All Because You Matter ) presents Zuri Ray, a spirited, fun-loving young Black girl who learns to stay true to herself in the face of her newest challenge: ballet camp. When Zuri tries ballet classes with Jessie, her best friend, she soon realizes that mimicking Jessie's movements and dress are neither easy nor to her liking. Their instructor, Madame Adele, teaches Zuri to embrace her own interests instead, encouraging Zuri to find her own way of enjoying dance even if it looks different than Jessie's. Charles not only enfolds Zuri in precious moments of motivation when adult figures support her, but also in important moments of self-reflection when she finds the courage to discover what makes her feel "I like me like this." As a lovely testament to Zuri's newfound confidence, Zuri and Jessie's bond of friendship is all the stronger after discovering their interests do not have to align perfectly in order to have fun and explore new things together. In easy-to-read layouts, Sordo uses every swooping figure line to express emotion and to depict the active richness of the characters amidst smooth washes of purples, blues, and pinks, echoing Zuri's determined, playful energy. VERDICT Young elementary-age readers will adore the vividly animated characters and feel encouraged by Zuri Ray and her example of finding compassion for herself and practicing honesty in friendship. A wonderful addition to any collection. Rachel Mulligan, Westampton, NJ

ALA Booklist (Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Get ready for a hilarious adventure with a memorable best-friend duo. Zuri is an adorable and precocious little girl who loves soccer, ghost-hunting, and science. Her best friend, Jessie Colón, wants more than anything in the world for Zuri to try ballet camp, so they both sign up. After several hilarious attempts to like ballet, Zuri learns that it is not her forte. She finally gets through to Jessie after a big blow up during class. The two mend their differences and learn that it is okay for best friends to have different interests. The illustrations are engaging with sweet, rounded figures and a palette favoring shades of pink, purple, and blue. Zuri, herself, has a compact figure with explosive curls and warm brown skin that reflects her biracial family. This work is a great choice for units on friendship, managing conflict, and learning concepts related to personal interests and hobbies. Great pairings include Mercer Mayer's Just My Friend and Me and A Friend like You (2016), by Andrea Schomburg and Barbara Röttgen.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Zuri Ray loves trying new things but decides ballet camp needs a boost.Zuri Ray, a biracial (Black/White) girl with a curly Afro, loves trying extraordinary things, especially with her friend Jessie Colón, a bespectacled, brown-skinned Latinx girl. Zuri and Jessie take turns choosing activities. But when Jessie chooses a weeklong ballet camp, Zuri is more tolerant than excited. In class, Jessie is a natural while Zuri's arms and legs do not cooperate. Zuri goes home wanting to quit, but her family convinces her to keep trying. Classes don't really improve, so after a pep talk with the teacher, Zuri shakes things up in class, shocking the other students with soccer clothes, loose, puffy hair, and kicks instead of leaps. Jessie is infuriated. When the friends make up, they agree that even though they don't have to like the same things, they can make things fun together. This sweet picture book is a fun departure from the typical ballet story, with an adventurous, sporty protagonist, a markedly diverse class headed by a Black teacher, and a wide array of activities and interests for the best friends to try, together and with family. Sordo's bright, busy illustrations express the characters' personalities and moods with energy and pizzazz. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A refreshing celebration of individuality, friendship, and exploration. (Picture book. 4-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Zuri Ray and her BFFD (-Best Friend From Diapers-) Jessie Colón take turns finding -anything-but-ordinary things- to do together. Jessie picks a weeklong ballet camp, and promises that it will be -fabulous, dahling!- But once at the barre, Charles (All Because You Matter) writes, Zuri feels out of place amid the other -proper- and -prim- amateur dancers; a pirouette attempt sends her sprawling. Reminded by her Black mother and white father that the family motto is -When the going gets tough... the Rays get tougher,- Zuri embraces the class on her own terms: in a soccer uniform with moves inspired by the playing field. Jessie is furious, but the wise teacher counsels that -both soccer and ballet require focus, technique and dedication,- repairing the friendship before the kids move on to the next activity. Digital cartoons by Sordo (the Ana & Andrew series) have the bright-eyed characters of contemporary message-driven animation, with lots of ancillary moments, including two brief dress-up segments, to add visual oomph. Balletomanes may not appreciate Zuri-s frustration, but it-s nice to see a variation on the traditional ballet take, one that resolves into a gentle comedy of fearless girlhood and friendship. Ages 4-8. Author-s agent: Lara Perkins, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator-s agent: James Burns, the Bright Agency. (June)