Book Description
for Family Reunion by Chad Richardson, Ashleigh Corrin, and Dad Richardson
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
A young Black narrator informs the reader right off the bat that he doesn’t want to go to his family reunion: “No reunion. NOPE. Rather play video games. Do I HAVE to go?” Aaron’s negative attitude is maintained through packing, the car ride, and initial introductions. “People I don’t know. Dad hugs. Mom hugs. Not me. NO. Force field activate.” Gradually the boy warms to his cousins and joins in their games, and he loves seeing his PopPop, who slips a ten-dollar bill into his pocket. Before long, he’s enjoying the food, the dancing, and the just plain hanging out with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. By the end, he’s already looking forward to next year’s reunion. The snappy conversational narrative and the expressive stylized illustrations aptly capture the traditions of a Black family reunion, right down to the matching t-shirts and the Sunday morning church service. (Ages 4-7)
CCBC Choices 2022. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2022. Used with permission.