Black Like Kyra, White Like Me (An Albert Whitman Prairie Book) - Softcover

Vigna, Judith

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0807507792 ISBN 13: 9780807507797

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company, 1992

Synopsis

Kyra is Christy's best friend from the youth center. Matt and Julie are Christy's best friends on her block. When Kyra's African-American family moves into Christy's white neighborhood, Christy learns a hard lesson about prejudice.

About this title

About the Author:

Judith Vigna is a published author/illustrator of children's books. Some of the published credits of Judith Vigna include Black Like Kyra, White Like Me, My Big Sister Takes Drugs, I Live With Daddy.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 1-3-- Kyra Kirk is one of Christy's best friends, but when Kyra's family moves in next door to Christy, trouble begins. Kyra is African-American, and the neighborhood is all white. Racists make the Kirks feel unwelcome, and let the air out of their tires. Even Christy's parents show reluctance about getting to know the new family. Vigna is not up to the challenge of this difficult subject. She makes sweeping generalizations, implying black neighborhoods are dangerous and white ones are safe, just the types of stereotypes that need dispelling, not reinforcing. Poverty is not discussed as a factor in crime or dangerous neighborhoods. The ending jumps curiously ahead from summer to winter; the Kirks are still trying to settle in, while one of the white families is moving away. Kyra and Christy are shown playing happily together, as if white-flight were the solution. As evidenced by the title, the story's point of view is white; Christy's parents are more concerned with their standing in the neighborhood than they are with the injustice they witness, and even try to justify a neighbor's actions. An insincere and insensitive book. --George Delalis, Oakland Public Library, CA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 0807507792
• ISBN 13: 9780807507797
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Vigna Judith