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My Block Looks Like
A love letter to the hustle, the bustle, the joy, and the grit of city life by debut author and Bronx native, Janelle Harper, and two-time Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner, Frank Morrison.
"My block looks like
a collision of cultures
a melting pot of cool
a burst of life
my favorite groove
. . .No matter what happens
I’ve seen it for myself
my block looks like
the coolest place
I’ve ever been."
A lyrical and proud picture book that recognizes the beauty of the bodegas, subways, and playgrounds that characterize everyday life in the Bronx and pays homage to the ways that its residents have shaped pop culture through music, visual art, and dance. Perfect for fans of I Am Every Good Thing and Last Stop on Market Street , My Block Looks Like offers kids a reaffirming message to celebrate and uplift their communities in an energetic text that begs to be read aloud.
"My block looks like
a collision of cultures
a melting pot of cool
a burst of life
my favorite groove
. . .No matter what happens
I’ve seen it for myself
my block looks like
the coolest place
I’ve ever been."
A lyrical and proud picture book that recognizes the beauty of the bodegas, subways, and playgrounds that characterize everyday life in the Bronx and pays homage to the ways that its residents have shaped pop culture through music, visual art, and dance. Perfect for fans of I Am Every Good Thing and Last Stop on Market Street , My Block Looks Like offers kids a reaffirming message to celebrate and uplift their communities in an energetic text that begs to be read aloud.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
February 13, 2024
Like always, Morrison's art is amazing.
April 20, 2024
I miss picture books that tell stories. However, Morrison’s illustrations are spectacular.
February 29, 2024
Take an energetic stroll through the Bronx, NY, as a lively girl strides through the streets of her neighborhood. Poetic words flow with the colorful illustrations that burst with pride and joy. Readers will get a sense of all of the unique things that make this boisterous borough a special place including music, dance, and art. A beautiful and vibrant book with a message of embracing who you are and where you’re from, kids will want to read it again and again!
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October 24, 2023Sometimes I wish book publishers weren't housed in New York City so they didn't publish so many books set in the city. But the illustrations are beautiful. I did look for the cat and didn't see it.
How do you use the line "the snarky cat posted at the door" about a city bodega, and then include an illustration of said door without a cat in it?
How do you use the line "the snarky cat posted at the door" about a city bodega, and then include an illustration of said door without a cat in it?
October 14, 2023
The prose leaps off the page of this beautiful celebration of the Bronx, and the illustrations burst with light and joy.
January 18, 2024
OBSESSED. The most beautiful love letter to the Bronx from a kid's perspective. Makes me miss NYC!
September 26, 2024
5* for art
4 for text: text is great, but it doesn't tell a story....
4 for text: text is great, but it doesn't tell a story....
March 7, 2024
My Block Looks Like is a journey through one girl’s afternoon as she walks her neighborhood. The staccato verse describing her block - the streetlights, the subway, the playground - sounds so much like a heartbeat, like spoken word, all highlighted with Morrison’s fluid artwork. Every picture feels like it’s moving with our narrator as she journeys to the dance studio and eventually home.
I can’t help it - I am a sucker for Frank Morrison. It’s an absolute pleasure to delve into this picture book. The art is striking, the verse is pumping, urging the reader to read on, and the story is filled with love for her neighborhood, which is so, so sweet. I think respecting and appreciating our space, the place where we live or where we are from, is a wonderful thing to be reminded of. Janelle Harper writes an ode to her neighborhood that transcends the reader having to know what it’s like to live in NYC, she makes us all feel love and happiness for our place. She describes her neighborhood so well we are transported and we can enjoy her little slice-of-life.
I can’t help it - I am a sucker for Frank Morrison. It’s an absolute pleasure to delve into this picture book. The art is striking, the verse is pumping, urging the reader to read on, and the story is filled with love for her neighborhood, which is so, so sweet. I think respecting and appreciating our space, the place where we live or where we are from, is a wonderful thing to be reminded of. Janelle Harper writes an ode to her neighborhood that transcends the reader having to know what it’s like to live in NYC, she makes us all feel love and happiness for our place. She describes her neighborhood so well we are transported and we can enjoy her little slice-of-life.
January 15, 2024
Yes, this is a joyously gorgeous celebration of the Bronx, but it's also so much more than that. With vibrant illustrations and poetic prose that feels both nostalgic and in the moment, this book is about pride of place and home. It's about appreciating the details and noticing the small things that make your neighborhood unique and special, no matter where you're from. I've never been to the Bronx, but as I was reading this book, I found myself recalling the neighborhood(s) where I grew up, and longing for settings that were special to me as a child. So even if you've never set foot in New York City, this book is for anyone who loves or misses a city, street, community, neighborhood, or place they've called home.
February 9, 2024
My Block Looks Like is just plain cool.
Author Janelle Harper’s text is the kind you can imagine being not only read, but performed, aloud. It’s beautiful in its cadence, begging to be read fast and slow and in between. It truly stands alone.
But then you put it with Frank Morrison’s fantastic illustrations, and it becomes magic.
Morrison’s images are full of energy and movement. He captures the hustle and bustle, the vibrant diversity and sense of community felt on “the block.� And yet, he captures the quiet moments here and there, too � crossing the street, eating an Icee, sitting at the window. It’s a master class in illustration.
My Block Looks Like would be great in the classroom, especially as a jumping off point for kids to explore what their own blocks look like.
Author Janelle Harper’s text is the kind you can imagine being not only read, but performed, aloud. It’s beautiful in its cadence, begging to be read fast and slow and in between. It truly stands alone.
But then you put it with Frank Morrison’s fantastic illustrations, and it becomes magic.
Morrison’s images are full of energy and movement. He captures the hustle and bustle, the vibrant diversity and sense of community felt on “the block.� And yet, he captures the quiet moments here and there, too � crossing the street, eating an Icee, sitting at the window. It’s a master class in illustration.
My Block Looks Like would be great in the classroom, especially as a jumping off point for kids to explore what their own blocks look like.
February 14, 2024
Lyrical Masterpiece! This book is filled with positive vibes, warmth, energy, and a heartbeat of a neighborhood. It displays the beauty and worth of communities that are all too, often looked over. Harper strings her words together in ways that mimic the heartbeat of a community. I was blown away by the beautiful descriptions that highlight, the experiences of refusing to give up and the determination of reaching higher in life. I truly felt this book in my soul. Morrison is second to none with his artwork. His signature style, vibrant colors, and movement within still pictures are incredible. I highly recommend this book.
November 11, 2024
If you liked last year's , you'll love this latest book illustrated by . A love letter about the Bronx, I couldn't help hearing the 1976 Doobie Brothers classic in my head. Big hair, graffiti, double dutch, street ball and tall buildings; experience the joys of city living.
December 19, 2024
Fabulous and needed book from an author who lives and teaches in the Bronx and wanted a book that reflected the children in her classroom and neighborhood. The joy and pride is palpable in both the text and Frank Morrison's illustrations. I had to look up "chopped cheese sandwich," but I love that so many will recognize that and everything else that is celebrated in this book. The DANCE page at the end had me thinking of Alvin Ailey and Judith Jamison; but I see that the author also has a dance studio, so perhaps it's her. I love the illustrations of our main girl, especially her leap (jete?) with her bubblegum at the end.
January 2, 2024
Janelle Harper wrote My Blocks Looks Like to give her students a book they can see themselves in. This picture book is a love letter to New York City and the Black and brown kids who live in the Bronx.
The illustrations by Frank Morrison really carry this one. I love how he depicts movement in every scene. He plays with heights giving readers different eye views on each page. And then there's the finer details like the graffiti on the walls and trucks and the messages they read to the outfits people are wearing.
The illustrations by Frank Morrison really carry this one. I love how he depicts movement in every scene. He plays with heights giving readers different eye views on each page. And then there's the finer details like the graffiti on the walls and trucks and the messages they read to the outfits people are wearing.
January 25, 2024
Brief summary:ÌýA young girl shares how she enjoys the music, spray paint art, and other things of her home block in the Bronx.
Comments:ÌýThe rhythmic words and action-filled illustrations follow the girl in the yellow hoodie, as she walks through her neighborhood, proudly sharing everything.
You may need to practice this reading aloud before sharing it with a class to get the rhythm of the words.
I think it would be an interesting series to see other communities done in this style.
4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Comments:ÌýThe rhythmic words and action-filled illustrations follow the girl in the yellow hoodie, as she walks through her neighborhood, proudly sharing everything.
You may need to practice this reading aloud before sharing it with a class to get the rhythm of the words.
I think it would be an interesting series to see other communities done in this style.
4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
May 4, 2024
What an energy or vibe this book has going. How gleeful and fun. I don't know that I've ever felt that proud of my neighborhood. I take it back, I did when I lived in Ann Arbor. I loved everyday walking around that city.
The prose are wonderful and this has such a positive vibe going on it it. The colors burst off the page. I just feel good after reading this little feeling. How can people not enjoy this book.
The artwork is amazing. The street art with the movement make for a good vibe while setting up the poem. It's fantastic.
A treat.
The prose are wonderful and this has such a positive vibe going on it it. The colors burst off the page. I just feel good after reading this little feeling. How can people not enjoy this book.
The artwork is amazing. The street art with the movement make for a good vibe while setting up the poem. It's fantastic.
A treat.
January 18, 2024
My Block Looks Like is a powerful dedication to the Bronx! Janelle Harper shows her home so much love in this beautiful story exploring the community and the everyday beauty of her neighborhood through the eyes of a little girl. It almost reads like a poem, with lyrical writing and sound effects that pair gorgeously with the artwork by Frank Morrison. A must-have for your collection. Keep an eye out for more from Janelle!
January 24, 2024
Get ready to immerse yourself in a delightful journey through the vibrant streets of the Bronx! Janelle Harper's playful and poetic prose, complemented by Frank Morrison's exuberant artistry, transforms this into a captivating picture book that radiates with stunning beauty. Each page pulsates with infectious energy and pure joy. This might just inspire you and your little one to hop on a plane or a train to the heart of this enchanting borough!
February 13, 2024
The language and the art in this book � WOW! What a beautiful representation of The Bronx and the children/people that live there.
If you are a Bronx native, you will be SO proud to show off your city with this book. And if you aren’t, you’ll be so ready to pack your bags and visit!
But if you can’t visit, buy this book� It’s cheaper than a plane ticket and will take you right to the heart of The Bronx!!!
If you are a Bronx native, you will be SO proud to show off your city with this book. And if you aren’t, you’ll be so ready to pack your bags and visit!
But if you can’t visit, buy this book� It’s cheaper than a plane ticket and will take you right to the heart of The Bronx!!!
February 26, 2024
A high energy picture book that celebrates the "hustle and bustle" energy of the Bronx. The fast paced lyrical text and big and bold gorgeous illustrations work together beautifully to describe the dynamic street activity. A truly joyful homage to a Bronx neighborhood!
"My block looks like
a collision of cultures
a melting pot of cool
a burst of life
my favorite groove
my city
my hood
my block
my home
my village
my family
my friends
my soul!"
"My block looks like
a collision of cultures
a melting pot of cool
a burst of life
my favorite groove
my city
my hood
my block
my home
my village
my family
my friends
my soul!"
March 22, 2024
Frank Morrison's beginnings as a graffiti artist certainly shows in this book, set in NYC, with graffiti art on buildings throughout the book. I especially liked the birds'-eye view of the block. Art and text together give a good view of a "concrete jungle." The artwork is vibrant and colorful, with ethnically diverse people roaming the streets.
While the young girl in the book loves her block, I, personally, prefer the many trees, green grass, and birds in my neighborhood.
While the young girl in the book loves her block, I, personally, prefer the many trees, green grass, and birds in my neighborhood.
September 17, 2024
With leap-off-the-page scenes and perspectives filled with soul-stirring joy, MY BLOCK LOOKS LIKE has masterful metaphors and brilliant, voice-laden lyricism, awe-inspiring use of literary devices, and playful, empowering phrasing and pacing. There's so much to love about this vibrant picture book: the Bronx!, celebrating all the cool beauty, art, and life that surrounds you, neighborhood pride, irresistible art plus read-aloud, and the power of self-affirmation. Go check out this book!
October 25, 2024
I knew I wanted to read this because I love Frank Morrison's illustrations. This book does not disappoint. The pictures are vibrant, full of life and motion, expressing so much joy. Janelle Harper's ode to life in the city is a great match for the illustrations. The reader is encouraged to look beyond the stereotypes and the negatives that are portrayed in the news to see the vibrant culture, the pride, the community, and the sheer joy of living! Perfect for fans of Connie Schofield-Morrison.
February 6, 2025
I adore this title! I love the illustrations. It feels like a love letter to The Bronx (BX). I think this would be amazing to have in a elementary school library. There are so many references to New York culture and slang that I don't think a student from the Midwest, South, and West Coast would be able to relate to this title. That being said, it was lovely and I personally would get a copy for my home! Also - the illustrations were stunning!
February 13, 2024
What an absolutely BEAUTIFULLY, musically, vibrantly written PB that celebrates the communities that shape us. In this case, The Bronx. I’m a life long Californian, but when I read this story, I wanted to be from the Bronx so it could hit even harder than it already did! The art is a masterpiece and the words come alive when you read them aloud. Highly recommend adding this to your library!
February 20, 2024
Janelle's ode to the Bronx is vibrant, full of swag and a richness you can only experience reading it aloud to a kindergarten class that's never been to New York and now want to go!
The way the beat comes out in the words and the illustration pulls the same words off the pages makes this a perfect book for your personal library!
The way the beat comes out in the words and the illustration pulls the same words off the pages makes this a perfect book for your personal library!
February 28, 2024
Both Author, Janelle Harper and Illustrator, Frank Morrison are to be commended for MY BLOCK LOOKS LIKE! This lyrical Picture Book will resonate with both young and "older" readers! The reader will take a delightful journey through a city block and discover why "MY Block" is the coolest place! A must read!
March 5, 2024
Moved it up to 4 stars because I would love to see Frank Morrison's illustrations getting great recognition. I had a hard time loving the text as I've never been to the Bronx. I can see teachers using it as a mentor for kids drawing or writing about their block (or one of the other words for neighborhood).
March 31, 2024
4 stars (I really liked it)
The illustrations in this book are just fantastic. The writing is a lyrical love letter to the girl's city (the Bronx- I know this from other reviews, I didn't pick up on it myself...) but could also be a really cool anchor text for students to write about the small details of their city/community.
The illustrations in this book are just fantastic. The writing is a lyrical love letter to the girl's city (the Bronx- I know this from other reviews, I didn't pick up on it myself...) but could also be a really cool anchor text for students to write about the small details of their city/community.
April 5, 2024
Gorgeous illustrations. Love the confidence you can see in the character on each page
Can use this to challenge my students to *see* their neighbourhoods and pay attention to all of the people and happenings rather than just walking past. What do these things tell them about their block? What stories are waiting to be told there?
Can use this to challenge my students to *see* their neighbourhoods and pay attention to all of the people and happenings rather than just walking past. What do these things tell them about their block? What stories are waiting to be told there?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
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