I Will Be Fierce

March 15, 2019
A multicultural girl-power manifesto featuring a feisty young girl who faces her day as a knight on an epic quest.The unnamed narrator puts on her "armor" (a rainbow sweater) and fills her "treasure chest" (a backpack). Venturing forth to "explore new worlds," she drives back "dragons" (neighborhood dogs on their walk), boards the "many-headed serpent" (her school bus, with schoolmates' heads protruding from every window), and visits "the Mountain of Knowledge" (the school library) to "solve the mysteries of the unknown." After standing up for her beliefs--by joining a classmate sitting alone in the cafeteria--the young girl returns home to rest in the lap of an older female relative, possibly a grandparent/primary caregiver, to prepare for the next day, when she can be "fierce again." Birdsong's repeated refrain--"I will be fierce!"--underlines the unambiguous message of this sassy picture book, and Chanani's bold and energetic illustrations reinforce the text's punchy, feminist-y declarations. They depict a joyously multiracial environment, consciously tackling stereotypes with an elderly, white, female bus driver and a groovy, Asian-presenting librarian with a green streak in her hair. The fierce protagonist herself has brown skin and fluffy, dark brown hair, and her caregiver also has brown skin. Birdsong began her career as a teacher, and the book will find repeated use in the classroom. (Picture book. 4-7)

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May 31, 2019

K-Gr 2-A school-aged girl uses her imagination to feel confident as she goes about her day. She is determined to answer the call to adventure and to be fierce. She considers her schoolbag her treasure chest and her rainbow-striped shirt her armor. When she encounters someplace new, she imagines herself walking tall in a world of giants, dragons, and serpents. She is bold and brave whether she's in the library, in the cafeteria, or with her grandparents. The atmospheric illustrations add another dimension to the story. VERDICT A simple, empowering tale that encourages children to be the heroes of their own stories. An engaging choice for storytime or one-on-one sharing.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, Alta.

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.