Creativity - Hardcover

John Steptoe

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0395687063 ISBN 13: 9780395687062

Publisher: Clarion Books, 1997

Synopsis

Charles, an African-American student, is surprised to learn that a new classmate, Hector, who has the same brown skin, is from Puerto Rico and speaks Spanish, and comes up with some ingenious ways to help them each learn to appreciate their differences and similarities.

About this title

About the Author

E.B. Lewis's watercolor paintings appear in BIG BOY and many other picture books. The recipient of a Coretta Scott King Honor for Illustration, he lives in Folsom, New Jersey.

Reviews

Grade 3-5. When a boy named Hector joins Charles's class, Charles finds the new boy's dark skin and straight hair confusing. How can Hector speak Spanish, be Puerto Rican, and have the same skin color as Charles, who is African American? This confusion sparks discussion about shared heritage and language. When Charles decides he will teach Hector English, his parents remind him that his English isn't exactly perfect?in fact, it is most definitely original. This is where the title comes in. As their friendship grows, Charles protects Hector from being teased by giving him a pair of used but in-style sneakers, a true sign of friendship because, "In this neighborhood you got to have the right sneakers 'less you want to get laughed at." In return, he receives a not-so-stylish palm-tree shirt, but it's a gift he deems "very creative" and is proud to wear. Unfortunately, the tone is pedantic and the writing is wordy and stiff. Still, much of the story is right on target. This posthumous work displays a genuine understanding of a gently blossoming friendship between two boys, and children will encounter real-life issues and situations that many will recognize from personal experience. Lewis's watercolor illustrations are well executed and capture the boys' emotions at just the right moments. Not great but certainly worth noting.?Alicia Eames, Brooklyn Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A posthumously published story by Steptoe (Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, 1987, etc.) demonstrates his usual themes of positive self-image and acceptance of cultural heritage, this time presenting young African-American Charles's reaction when ``this new dude walks in'' to Mr. Cohen's classroom. ``Hector's whole name was one of them long numbers,'' and he speaks to the teacher in Spanish. Hector is from Puerto Rico, but he is the same color as Charles and his hair is also black (though straight). Charles doesn't get it, but he's happy to help Hector and his sisters learn the ropes in their new school. Mr. Cohen fills Charles in--how Hector's ancestry was enriched by that of other groups in Puerto Rico. Charles has already decided that Hector is a ``nice dude,'' and he tells his parents that he could teach Hector English. Daddy says that Charles's riffing on the English language is creativity. It pleases Charles to learn that doing things his own way has a good name, and he puts the concept to good use when Hector needs some help with his clothes. Lewis's full-spread watercolors under a readable text happily complement this warm story of friendship. (Picture book. 6-10) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Ages 4^-8. With realistic, light-filled watercolor illustrations of school and neighborhood, Lewis gives a contemporary urban setting to an unpublished story by the late author-illustrator Steptoe. Like Steptoe's great picture book Stevie (1969), this story is about getting to know and like an outsider. The story is more didactic here, but Lewis' relaxed, thoughtful pictures of individual people will draw children into a scenario they will want to talk about. Charles is surprised that Hector, the new boy in class from Puerto Rico, speaks Spanish. How can that be when Hector is as dark-skinned as Charles, and Charles speaks English? His teacher and his parents explain to him about the history of Puerto Rico, and he comes to see how he and Hector are connected and how everyone in the classroom "is the result of different people mixing up together." What's more, languages change and mix, and people can be "creative" when they speak and do things their own way. There is a slight story (Charles helps Hector when the boys at school tease Hector about his clothes), but what kids will want to talk about are the language and connection issues, which are as hot today as when Steptoe wrote this. Hazel Rochman

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0395687063
• ISBN 13: 9780395687062
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: E. B. Lewis
• Number of pages: 32