Angelina's Island (review)

Angelina and her parents recently immigrated to New York City, and every day she asks her mother if it is time to go home to her beloved Jamaica yet. She misses the sounds and look and feel of Jamaica, as well as the tropical fruits, the warm sand, the rainbow-colored birds and, perhaps most of all, her grandmother, yearnings expressed in a series of lyrical parallels that contrast Angelina's view of the shortcomings of New York with the abundant beauty and richness of her island home. The story turns when Mama learns of a Carnival celebration to be held in Brooklyn; soon the young girl is getting fitted for a costume and learning a dance with a group of other children, and participating in the Carnival parade proves to be just what Angelina needs to feel at home on her new island. Winter's bold graphic style perfectly suits the strong emotions and exuberant colors of Angelina's ponderings; the West Indian characters are depicted as inky black with simple line details showing faces, clothes, and accessories in brilliant shades of pinks, blues, purples, and greens. A single boxed illustration sits on each page, set against a jewel-toned field of color. Those illustrations depicting the New York of her frustrations are set in tones of gray, black, and taupe and lack the splashes of tropical color reserved for Jamaica. Though the solution is a little easy, this is an effective perspective on adjusting to a new country, and even the youngest listeners will likely relate to the simple presentation of Angelina's longing for home. An author's note provides information about the annual Carnival celebration held in Brooklyn each September.