The Hula-Hoopin' Queen
A spunky African American girl has a hula-hooping competition with her friends in Harlem, and soon everyone in the neighborhood--young and old alike--joins in on the fun.
Kameeka is confident that today she will finally beat her rival, Jamara, and become the Hula-Hoopin' Queen of 139th Street. But then Mama reminds her that today is their neighbor Miz Adeline's birthday, and Kameeka has a ton of chores to do to get ready for the party they are hosting.
Kameeka's disappointed to be stuck at home and can only think about the hoopin' competition. Distracted, Kameeka accidentally ruins Miz Adeline's birthday cake, and has to confess to her that there won't be a cake for her special day. But then Miz Adeline's confesses something too: she's also got the itch-the hula-hoopin' itch! Her fingers start snappin'. Her hips start swingin'. Soon everyone's hips are swinging as the party spills out onto the street. The whole neighborhood's got the itch-the hula-hoopin' itch!
A spunky African American girl has a hula-hooping competition with her friends in Harlem, and soon everyone in the neighborhood-young and old alike-joins in on the fun. With vibrant illustrations by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, The Hula-Hoopin' Queen is a charming celebration of family and community ties. Set in Harlem, this intergenerational story shows the importance of staying young at heart.
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* "A lively intergenerational picture book that will send readers out to the sidewalk for a hoopin' good time... A fine incentive to motivate couch potatoes young and old to move." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "This story of a tightly knit community attests to the power of tradition and the treasures to be discovered among the generations that came before." -- Shelf Awareness, starred review
"These feisty characters, find loving ways to honor and forgive one another--while having a blast--will give pleasure across generations. Warning: this itch is contagious!" -- School Library Journal
"First-time picture book author Godin's empathic prose and Brantley-Newton's emotionally telegraphic art capture the lively and nurturing Harlem neighborhood and the thrill of competition, whether age nine or 90." -- Publishers Weekly
"This enjoyable intergenerational story has a sassy surprise at the end that is neither saccharine nor contrived and entirely in the good-natured spirit of the girls' rivalry. The text snaps with a cadence that seems effortless and lends itself well to reading aloud. Brantley-Newton's colorful palette reflects the lively inner-city neighborhood in which Kameeka lives, where kids play on the sidewalk and neighbors look out for one another. With its emphasis on camaraderie and celebrating, this is a perfect title for sharing." -- Booklist
"[R]efreshingly original... The appealing cartoon-style illustrations highlight a strong sense of community in Kameeka's Harlem neighborhood, showing a wide range of distinctive characters and places. They are likely to draw children right into that world, and there's a lot to notice there, from the pictures on Kameeka's living room wall to signs in shop windows to the hula-hooping figure on the traffic 'walk' light." -- The Horn Book
Best of the Best Books, Chicago Public Library
Charlotte Zolotow Award - Highly Commended Title, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Choices, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Delaware Diamonds Reading List, Diamond State Reading Association
Outstanding Achievement in Children's Literature, Wisconsin Library Association
