#blogbookaday: Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community
Summary:
“One creative boy.
One bare, abandoned wall.
One BIG idea.
There is a wall in Ăngelâs neighborhood. Around it, the community bustles with life: music, dancing, laughing. Not the wall. It is bleak. One boy decides to change that. But he canât do it alone.” (Taken from Goodreads)
Review:
I love stories of kids that are inspired to make a difference in their community. This story is about a wall the length of a city block that does nothing to create interest in the neighborhood. The families that live there share stories, music, food, and memories. But the wall just stands there. Ăngel decides to change all that by creating a mural that incorporates all his neighbors as they leave their own mark on their neighborhood.
Personal Reaction:
I live outside of Philadelphia where street art is not only common, but celebrated throughout the city. Philadelphia is actually recognized as the “City of Murals” because of the large amount of street art that can be found. Almost 35 years ago, a local artist reached out to the graffiti artists in the city in the hopes of creating public art projects that could be enjoyed by everyone. There is an unwritten rule that graffiti artist won’t tag murals – allowing the city to celebrate its rich history in a form that everyone can enjoy. What’s really cool is that you can take walking tours around the city to experience the artwork yourself. It’s fun to turn the corner and look up – seeing beautiful artwork right there on the street. You can learn more about Philadelphia’s Mural Arts program by checking out their website.
Title:Â Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community
Author: Susan Verde
Illustrator: John Parra
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 4, 2018
This is a new idea I’m trying on my blog this year that was inspired by @donalynbooks and @heisereads – to provide a brief review of a picture book every day of 2018. You’ll get a brief summary of the story, a review of the content, illustrations and theme, my personal reaction to the book and all the pertinent publication information! Enjoy!
