ALAINA AND THE GREAT PLAY by Eloise Greenfield gets a starred review in Kirkus

Oh, what a wonderful and joyous book! But don't take our word for it. Here's the Kirkus starred review for Alaina and the Great Play (Alazar Press), written by Eloise Greenfield and illustrated by Colin Bootman:

“A day in the life of an aspiring young thespian.

Alaina, a little Black girl with long locs and a missing front tooth, awakens to her mother's original Alaina-wake-up song. Immediately excited, she can't wait for the second grade school play, which prompts her to jump up and down on her bed – until a look from Mom says, “stop that right now.” Alaina hurriedly prepares for her day. Though only a kindergartner, Alaina will say the last five words of the play, which she practices as her mom walks her to school through their urban neighborhood. After lunch, Miss Wheeler gathers everyone for the performance, and Alaina recites her lines again for the teacher. During the production, Alaina marvels at how realistically the second graders act out the emotions of their college-age characters. When the play ends, Alaina's drab lines seem dull in comparison to the fabulous acting...so she improvises. Greenfield portrays a close and loving relationship between the Black mother and daughter – but one in which Alaina understands her boundaries and tests them but ultimately honors them. Bootman's full-color, double-page illustrations, a bit hazily dreamlike and done with broad swaths of bold, bright colors, immerse readers in this child's home and school life while highlighting Alaina's excited face, mischief, and all-in personality.

A delightfully illustrated, one-of-a-kind Greenfield creation that will have readers wishing for another. (Picture book. 4-7)”

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