Illustrated with large, handsome watercolor portraits, the 16 poems in this anthology celebrate the rich diversity of American kids at makes each one special and the connections between them. Most poems are original to this collection, except for the final, "My People," by Langston Hughes, which is paired with a close-up view of a huge crowd of parents and kids of many backgrounds that also appears on the cover. A sad kid is not accepted by the in-crowd in Jude Mandell's "I'm the One." In contrast, Pat Mora's poem features a Latino boy who finds bliss in solitude ("I like to count the stars"). Jane Medina's "Me x 2" includes Spanish translation of the lines and shows the riches of bilingualism: "I do twice as much." And Jane Yolen's "Karate Kid" is a fun read-aloud ("Chop / Kick / Peace / Power") and features a dynamic portrait of a girl in action. A great collection for sharing at home and in the classroom.

Faces and the emotions they reveal are the focus for this appealing but uneven poetry collection. Some selections, like the poem by Rebecca Kai Dotlich that looks ahead to a baby's possible life experiences or Prince Redcloud's brief but moving description of a young soldier's return home, are decidedly adult in tone. Others, like Nikki Grimes's endearing portrait of a caring teacher or the wistful musings of a young boy ignored by his classmates from Jude Mandell, will be accessible to much younger readers and listeners. Still others feel a bit forced, as if they are trying too hard to fit the designated theme, or, worse, seem out of place entirely. Luckily, Soentpiet's light-filled portraits and charming crowd scenes bring the characters and settings to life. Realistic, if somewhat idealized, the watercolor illustrations also provide a strong sense of continuity even as they showcase individuals from a variety of cultures. Undeniably attractive and potentially useful in a classroom setting but ultimately less than the sum of its parts, this collection may struggle to find an appreciative audience. (Poetry. 7-10)

A collection of brief poems describe the many faces of multicultural America: an African American boy dreaming, a bilingual Latina girl, a lonely Caucasian boy, an Asian boy living in Chinatown, a Native American elder spinning stories. Poets include Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Janet S. Wong, Langston Hughes, Pat Mora, and Jane Yolen. This celebration of diversity is illustrated with beautifully detailed realistic paintings.

Gr 4-6 "You can read many things in her face," says Joseph Bruchac in describing Aunt Molly Sky, a venerable Native American storyteller. Aunt Molly is one of 16 people, varied in age and ethnicity, whose everyday lives are reflected in this picture-book anthology. Faces figure prominently in some poems as Hopkins and Soentpiet celebrate America's diversity. "Amazing Face" belongs to a chortling Asian baby who is addressed by a blond mother, and the concluding poem, Langston Hughes's "My People," is paired with a multiracial crowd waving flags in a city fireworks scene. Some of the voices and warm watercolor portraits are necessarily specificChinatown's child who lives "above Good Fortune/where they catch crabs fresh" or "Latina, abuela , she is everyone/of us come from otherwhere." Some experiencesdreams, loneliness, the heroism of a returning soldier or a smoke-smudged firefighterare universal. Varied in shape, each poem is set on an ivory half-page next to a broad scenesometimes a single child, other times a small group or an energetic crowd. This appealing package of poetry and ideas will be enjoyed by children, parents, and teachers. There are many bits to savor, and the underlying theme is so well executed that it could easily stimulate interest in finding more people in poems. Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston

The focus of this excellent collection of disparate poems is not strictly faces but people. The poems%E2%80%94contributed by writers such as Joseph Bruchac, Nikki Grimes, Pat Mora, and Jane Yolen%E2%80%94include character sketches, vignettes, and descriptions of people from all over multicultural America. Soentpiet%E2%80%99s (Saturdays and Teacakes) astonishing watercolors unify the book%E2%80%99s theme as he concentrates each illustration on the faces of Americans who live in both small towns and cities. His paintings are lifelike, full of shadows and depth, and astonishingly precise. They allow readers to see a variety of emotional scenes, featuring a Native American storyteller, a soldier returning home, an insouciant Mexican-American girl, a firefighter, flirting teenagers, and a busy street in Chinatown. Especially noteworthy is Rebecca Kai Dotlich%E2%80%99s opening poem, %E2%80%9CAmazing Face,%E2%80%9D a touching portrait of a parent%E2%80%99s hopes for a new baby (%E2%80%9CAmazing, your face./ It shows you will watch from a window,/ whisper to a friend,/ ride a carousel...%E2%80%9D). The ending reveals a sea of faces and fireworks to accompany Langston Hughes%E2%80%99s %E2%80%9CMy People,%E2%80%9D a fitting celebration of Americans in all their diversity. Ages 6%E2%80%93up. (May)