Carnival Queen - by Donette Williams-Harry (Hardcover)

About the Book

Carly excitedly gets ready for Carnival, but is upset when her dress rips, until other mas bands help. Includes back matter on carnival celebrations in different parts of the world.

Book Synopsis

A joyful Carnival book for kids ages 3-7 about the power of community, with vibrant illustrations and back matter introducing traditional holiday celebrations all around the world.

Join Kayla, Mommy, and Granny as they get ready for Carnival, the biggest party of the year!

It's Carnival day, and Kayla is SO excited! She helps Granny cook, and she waits patiently as Mommy puts colorful beads in her hair. But when Kayla gets dressed in her glittery, colorful costume and starts to dance around the house, she accidentally rips the material. Mommy and Granny try to fix it, but it's still not quite right. At the celebration, Kayla asks for help from the other mas bands (celebrants in elaborate costumes). This colorful, inspiring celebration of carnival includes back matter on carnival celebrations in different parts of the world.

A joyful celebration of community, courage, ancestry, and the most vibrant event of the year! With back matter introducing traditional holiday celebrations all around the world.

Review Quotes

A little girl's favorite day of the year poses some unique challenges, but she handles it with the grace of a queen.

With her bonnet still on, Kayla looks out the window to see costumed dancers amid the thunderous boom of the recently set up speakers. After helping Grandma cook Caribbean treats and sitting with Mommy to have festive and colorful beads put in her hair, Kayla dons the glittery outfit that she'll be rocking today as a Carnival queen. With "pretty costumes and BIG ENERGY," Granny, Mommy, and Kayla test out their moves; their brown skin, their colorful clothing and accessories, and Kayla's ornamental hair beads and headdress are all vibrantly illustrated to capture movement and cultural flourishes. But maybe they're moving too fast too soon--Kayla slips and rips and pops out of her costume. Sadly, there's not much time before the carnival begins. But Granny reminds young Kayla--and readers--that the real purpose of the festivities isn't costumes, but rather a connection to the ancestors, a global celebration of pan-African heritage, as Williams-Harry notes in her backmatter. And it should be no surprise that the community eventually comes together for Kayla, taking her costume to another level as the Soca music blares and she rises again in her richly colored, feathered, and shining new dress as "CARNIVAL QUEEN!" A celebration of a celebration, both fun and inviting. (Note on Carnival) (Picture book. 4-8)--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Donette Williams-Harry enjoys diving deep into her imagination through reading and writing stories. Born in London of Caribbean descent, she is passionate about aiding great diversity in children's books, encouraging all children to think outside of the box.

Amélie-Anne Calmo is a Martinican illustrator. Sympathetic to activist causes, she believes that representation is essential for empowerment, especially among the younger generation. She aims to contribute to the influence of Afro-Caribbean culture and highlights diversity through gentle and colorful illustrations.