Synopses & Reviews
What do Prospect Park, Coney Island, and Atlantic Avenue have in common? They are all located in Brooklyn, New York, a magical place where you can listen to jazz music, eat bagels and lox, and sit on the stoop of a brownstone and daydream. Children will recognize aspects of their own neighborhoods in this celebration of urban culture and community.
Review
"...a loving tribute that sucessfully captures Brooklyn's diversity and character."--Publishers Weekly, starred
"...a welcome celebration of its rich ethnic, culinary, racial and religious diversity."--Kirkus
Praise for My Subway Ride:
“The artwork is bright, clear, and just a little surreal as subway maps and grids are incorporated into most of the paintings.” —School Library Journal
Praise for Im Your Peanut Butter Big Brother:
“Funky, fun gouache and mixed-media illustrations . . . refreshingly nondidactic story.” —Booklist
“[The book] will certainly be appreciated by biracial families, and the loving and anticipatory atmosphere may connect with any expectant family wondering who the new baby will take after.” —SLJ
Review
"...a loving tribute that sucessfully captures Brooklyn's diversity and character."--Publishers Weekly, starred
"...a welcome celebration of its rich ethnic, culinary, racial and religious diversity."--Kirkus
Praise for My Subway Ride:
“The artwork is bright, clear, and just a little surreal as subway maps and grids are incorporated into most of the paintings.” —School Library Journal
Praise for Im Your Peanut Butter Big Brother:
“Funky, fun gouache and mixed-media illustrations . . . refreshingly nondidactic story.” —Booklist
“[The book] will certainly be appreciated by biracial families, and the loving and anticipatory atmosphere may connect with any expectant family wondering who the new baby will take after.” —SLJ
Review
“Alkos cheery mixed-media collages feature everything from ticket stubs to subway tiles to tearings from the New York Times best-seller list, accompanied by broad-brush paintings of the citys multicultural inhabitants. In this spirited rendition of Brooklyn, a baby-toting mother celebrates the local outdoor pleasures alongside an interracial couple, a mustachioed gentleman in his 50s and a blond girl in a wheelchair. A particularly gorgeous Mermaid Parade struts by for the letter M. With hoopla like this, wavering Manhattanites may wind up in Fort Greene rather than Larchmont.”--The New York Times
"The most colorful, populous borough of New York City comes alive in this eye-popping alphabet book.”--School Library Journal
"...a loving tribute that successfully captures Brooklyn's diversity and character."--Publishers Weekly, starred
"...a welcome celebration of its rich ethnic, culinary, racial and religious diversity."--Kirkus
Praise for My Subway Ride:
“The artwork is bright, clear, and just a little surreal as subway maps and grids are incorporated into most of the paintings.” —School Library Journal
Praise for Im Your Peanut Butter Big Brother:
“Funky, fun gouache and mixed-media illustrations . . . refreshingly nondidactic story.” —Booklist
“[The book] will certainly be appreciated by biracial families, and the loving and anticipatory atmosphere may connect with any expectant family wondering who the new baby will take after.” —SLJ
About the Author
Selina Alko has illustrated several picture books and is the creator of Im Your Peanut Butter Big Brother. She lives in Brooklyn with her family. The paintings for B is for Brooklyn are currently on display at the Brooklyn Public Library.