English & Haitian
4-8 years
Family
Haitian Culture & Identity
Social-Emotional Learning
Tami Charles & Sara Palacios
summary
Fallon wants nothing more than to help her family and carry the heavy panye on her head home from the market. When she gets the chance to go with her Manman (mother) to pick up some vegetables, Fallon is initially eager and then frustrated when she drops it. Manman uses the metaphor of a bird building a nest to explain that learning takes time, but will Fallon ever be able to do this for her family?
I really love the color scheme and beautiful patterns found in the book. The bustling market scenes show the close knit community and familial relationships between vendors and shoppers. Tami Charles uses the panye as an example of Haitian resilience and perseverance with her lyrical text. All Because You Matter was one of my favorite books that released in 2020, and I’m thrilled she’s had another book come out so soon after. The story is beautiful, and the illustrations match it magnificently.
This book was kindly sent by Candlewick Press, but all opinions and decision to review are my own.
Tami Charles
Tami Charles is the New York Times bestselling author of All Because You Matter, and numerous books for children and young adults. Her middle grade debut, Like Vanessa, earned Top 10 spots on the Indies Introduce and Spring Kids’ Next lists, three starred reviews, and a Junior Library Guild selection. Her latest titles include YA novel-in-verse, Muted, which was a Buzzfeed Top 40 pick for 2021, and lyrical picture book, My Day with the Panye. When Tami isn’t writing, she can be found presenting at schools both stateside and abroad.
Sara Palacios
Sara Palacios is the recipient of a Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor for Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match and the illustrator of several other picture books, including The Flying Girl. Sara graduated with a degree in graphic design and went on to earn BFA and MFA degrees in illustration from the Academy of Art in San Francisco. A native of Mexico, Sara now lives in San Francisco.