Tag: Leo Espinosa

Reading Activities: My Block Looks Like by Janelle Harper, illustrated by Frank Morrison

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My Block Looks Like
Author: Janelle Harper
Illustrator: Frank Morrison
2 January 2024
Viking Books for Young Readers
40 pages

Book description from Goodreads: “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.

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.”

Need some reviews of My Block Looks Like?

Reading Activities inspired by My Block Looks Like:

  • Before Reading–From looking at the front cover: 
    • What do you notice first on the cover?
    • What clues tell you this neighborhood has a lot of movement and energy?
    • What sounds do you imagine hearing on this block?
    • How do the colors make the neighborhood feel?
    • What details on the cover make this block feel like a place people know well?
    • What questions would you like to ask the author or illustrator before reading the book?
  • After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story: 
    • What details make this block feel alive?
    • Which part of the neighborhood would you most want to visit, and why?
    • How do the words and pictures show sound, rhythm, and movement?
    • What ordinary places become special in this book?
    • How does the illustrator show pride, joy, or confidence in the people on the block?
    • What does this book suggest about the connection between place and identity?
    • Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
  • The Beat of the Block: Think about a place you know well and make a “beat list” for it. What do you hear there? Sneakers squeaking? Doors closing? Music playing? Dogs barking? Cars passing? Turn your list into a short chant or read-​aloud poem that begins, “My block sounds like…”
  • A Place with Personality: Choose one place from the book, such as a bodega, subway, playground, sidewalk, street corner, or mural. Then choose one place from your own community. What makes each place feel alive? Write a few lines comparing them.
  • Sidewalk Snapshot: Imagine you could freeze one busy moment from your neighborhood. Who would be there? What would they be doing? What details would make the scene feel real? Create a quick “snapshot” with words, pictures, or both. Try to include at least one tiny background detail someone might miss at first.
  • My Block Looks Like…: Use the book’s title as your starting point. Finish the sentence “My block looks like…” in three different ways. One answer can focus on what you see, one on what you hear, and one on how the place makes you feel. Push past easy answers and look for the specific details that make your place yours.
  • Neighborhood Pride Postcard: Create a postcard from your block, street, town, or favorite local place. On the front, show one image that captures the spirit of the place. On the back, write a short message to someone who has never been there before. What would you want them to notice first?
  • Books, Books, and More Books!: Check out these picture books about neighborhoods and noticing the places that shape us:

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson
A boy and his grandmother ride a bus across the city, and the trip shifts how he sees the world around him.

Maybe Something Beautiful by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, illustrated by Rafael López
A girl shares her art with her neighborhood, and this small creative act turns into something so much bigger.

My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero, illustrated by Zeke Peña
A girl rides through her neighborhood with her father, taking in the people, places, smells, and sounds that make it home.

Uptown by Bryan Collier
A boy celebrates Harlem through brownstones, barbershops, music, food, art, and neighborhood landmarks.

The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Leo Espinosa
A summer city book about the freedom, noise, and joy of kids playing outside.

Reading Activities: Are You a Friend of Dorothy? by Kyle Luckoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings

On By Only Picture BooksIn Reading Activities

Are You a Friend of Dorothy?
Author: Kyle Lukoff
Illustrator: Levi Hastings
29 April 2025
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
40 pages

Book description from Goodreads: “In a time when the LGBTQ+ community was forced to hide in the shadows, a woman named Dorothy helped her people find each other in the dark and celebrate themselves in the light.

But who was Dorothy? Was she from the neighborhood, someone’s wife, mother, or sister? Was she that clever writer, who threw parties where there were no rules about who you could and couldn’t dance with? Or was she a girl from Kansas, who dreamed of leaving her black-​and-​white, small-​town life and finding a vibrant, colorful world that loved her?

Dorothy might have been all these things—because Dorothy, as known by the post-​WWII queer community, wasn’t real. Still, she helped a community find connection and care amidst adversity.”

Need some reviews of Are You a Friend of Dorothy?

Reading Activities inspired by Are You a Friend of Dorothy?:

  • Before Reading–From looking at the front cover: 
    • What do you notice first when you look at the cover?

    • What do you think the title means? Who or what might “Dorothy” refer to?

    • What mood or feeling do the colors and art style give you?

    • Who do you think this book might be about? What clues helped you decide

    • If you could ask the character on the cover a question, what would it be?

  • After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story: 
    • What did the phrase “Are you a friend of Dorothy?” help people do?
    • Why do you think people had to hide their true selves in the past
    • How does the illustrator show community and connection in the pictures?
    • What are some ways the book blends fact and imagination?
    • How has life changed for LGBTQ+ people since the time this story takes place—and what challenges still remain?
    • What message do you think the author wants young readers to take away?
    • Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
  • Code Words & Connection Collage
    Make a collage about what it means to belong. Use magazines, drawings, stickers, or digital images to show places, people, or ideas that help you feel seen and safe. Add a secret symbol or word that only someone “in the know” would understand (just like the friends of Dorothy).
  • Rainbow Timeline
    This story looks at a real part of LGBTQ+ history. Create a visual timeline that starts with the phrase “Are you a friend of Dorothy?” and ends with the Pride celebrations we know today. Include moments from the book and add your own ideas or research about important LGBTQ+ events.
  • Dorothy Who? Detective Game
    The book offers different guesses about who Dorothy might’ve been. Choose one—Dorothy Gale, Dorothy Parker, or another idea—and create a mini case file. Draw clues, write a short “report,” or make a wanted poster that shows why your choice could be the true Dorothy.
  • Color Outside the Lines
    The illustrations in this book are bold and expressive, with vibrant colors that tell a story. Choose one page you love and recreate it using your own color choices or art style. What mood or message are you showing through your choices?
  • Secret Signals Station
    Come up with your own set of signals to say things without using words. You might use hand signs, symbols, or invented phrases. Practice with a friend or family member—can they figure out what your signals mean?
  • Books, Books, and More Books!
    Check out these real-​world picture books about identity, community, and the power of finding your people:

 

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold, illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman

A warm, inclusive classroom shows how differences are celebrated and everyone belongs.

Big by Vashti Harrison

This powerful story explores how others see us—and how we learn to see ourselves—with beauty, empathy, and strength.

Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

After seeing women dressed as mermaids, Julián explores his identity and finds love and acceptance in his abuela’s response.

Love, Violet by Charlotte Sullivan Wild, illustrated by Charlene Chua

A tender LGBTQ+ love story about a girl finding the courage to express her feelings to the one she admires most.

Our Subway Baby by Peter Mercurio, illustrated by Leo Espinosa

A true story about family, love, and how an adopted baby brought two dads—and a community—together.