Jamaica and Brianna

From Publishers Weekly
Peer approval and the need for good communication are the themes of this quietly appealing story. Like many younger siblings, Jamaica is often stuck wearing hand-me-downs, in this case, her big brother's "old gray boots." After her friend Brianna makes fun of Jamaica for wearing "boy boots," the resourceful heroine enlarges a hole in the toe of one of the offending galoshes, thus speeding up the need for a trip to the shoe store. When Jamaica returns to school, resplendent in a brand-new pair of cowboy boots, Brianna is once again ready with a put-down. Hurt, Jamaica retaliates with a remark about Brianna's own footwear. As in her previous Jamaica books, Havill displays a clear grasp of what matters to children. The simple, direct prose finds its complement in O'Brien's cozy, realistic watercolors. The pictures of Jamaica and Brianna are convincing; an additional pleasure are the vividly rendered bit players (Jamaica's classmates and family) who grace the background of nearly every page. Ages 4-8. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-Another charming book about Jamaica, a young African-American girl. This time, the story concerns what happens when she and Brianna, an Asian-American classmate, allow envy to undermine their friendship. Jamaica has to wear her older brother's outgrown, worn-out boots one snowy day. She is not happy about this, and is not helped by Brianna's unfeeling comments. Nor does she appreciate her friend's mean remarks when she gets new boots. Both girls are upset and angry, but they are able to work things out in a satisfying way. O'Brien's illustrations are realistically and beautifully done. They derive their power from the artist's ability to re-create the whole gamut of emotions that can be reflected in little girls' faces. Her solid watercolor paintings wonderfully complement the text, which is gentle and understated. Never preachy or overly dramatic, Havill's tender and sensitive story can be used to help young children deal with negative feelings.Carol Jones Collins, Montclair Kimberley Academy, NJCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 3-6. Like the other picture books about Jamaica and her friends, this one tells a story that captures common childhood experience, both the tension and the joy. Jamaica hates having to wear her brother's hand-me-down boots, especially when her friend Brianna teases her about the boy boots. When Jamaica gets to buy her own new pair, she chooses tan cowboy boots and tells Brianna that her pink fuzzy boots are ugly. Without a hint of didacticism, words and pictures show how jealousy and uncertainty make the friends mean to each other--until they see the hurt they've caused, and they make up. Jamaica is African American, Brianna is Asian American, the setting is suburban, and kids everywhere will recognize the put-downs and the affection. Realistic watercolor paintings, cheerful and tender, show the snowy outdoors, the crowd at the bus stop, the warm interiors of Jamaica's home, the cheerful bustle of the shoe store, and the busy school coatroom, where the quarrel is resolved and the boots are lined up together. Hazel Rochman

From Kirkus Reviews
The scenario is absolutely authentic: Jamaica is embarrassed by her hand-me-down boys' boots and jealous of Brianna's pretty pink ones; when Jamaica's wear out, she chooses cowboy boots so Brianna won't say she copied--only to have Brianna tell her that they ``aren't in''; hurt, she declares Brianna's ``ugly.'' All comes right when the two finally level: Brianna's boots are also hand-me-downs, and she can't wait to grow so she can replace them. Yes, the story's about boots--as important an arena for choice and identity for small children as for their elders--but it's also, in Havill's simple, beautifully honed text, about friendship. O'Brien's warm, realistic illustrations of this vibrant African-American and her lively Asian-American friend are just right. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review
"O'Brien's warm, realistic illustrations of this vibrant African-American and her lively Asian-American friend are just right."

Review
"O'Brien's warm, realistic illustrations of this vibrant African-American and her lively Asian-American friend are just right."

Book Description
It's wintertime again, and Jamaica has to wear her brother Ossie's hand-me-down boots. She finds herself envious of her friend Brianna's pink boots with the fuzzy cuffs, and Brianna teases her about her ugly, old "boy" boots. But one word brings reconciliation for the two friends.

Card catalog description
Jamaica hates wearing hand-me-down boots when her friend Brianna has pink fuzzy ones.


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K-Gr 3-Another charming book about Jamaica, a young African-American girl. This time, the story concerns what happens when she and Brianna, an Asian-American classmate, allow envy to undermine their friendship. Jamaica has to wear her older brother's outgrown, worn-out boots one snowy day. She is not happy about this, and is not helped by Brianna's unfeeling comments. Nor does she appreciate her friend's mean remarks when she gets new boots. Both girls are upset and angry, but they are able to work things out in a satisfying way. O'Brien's illustrations are realistically and beautifully done. They derive their power from the artist's ability to re-create the whole gamut of emotions that can be reflected in little girls' faces. Her solid watercolor paintings wonderfully complement the text, which is gentle and understated. Never preachy or overly dramatic, Havill's tender and sensitive story can be used to help young children deal with negative feelings.-Carol Jones Collins, Montclair Kimberley Academy, NJ


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