Parker Looks Up

September 15, 2019
This book is based on the viral photograph of African American toddler Parker Curry, who, during a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, became mesmerized by Amy Sherald's portrait of Michelle Obama, who she thought was a queen. One rainy afternoon, Parker's mother (co-author Jessica Curry) makes the suggestion that they visit the museum, little sister Ava in tow. At the museum, they see Parker's friend Gia and her mother. The three girls dance through the halls of the museum noticing horses, flowers, and feathers in the famous works of art. Just before they leave, Parker notices the portrait of Michelle Obama, stops in her tracks, and that viral photographic moment is born. Parker's thoughts about what she sees when she looks at Michelle Obama are assumed by her expressive gaze, well captured by illustrator Jackson. The reimagined images of the paintings are brilliant. In one, Einstein seems to be looking down on Parker and Gia, who laugh at his "bushy mustache," and ballerinas in "frilly white tutus" step out of the frame to join the girls as they dance down a hall. (The actual titles of the paintings are included in the backmatter.) One illustration shows a diverse group of children engaging in various activities, which invites young readers to imagine a world of possibilities for themselves, the way Parker does. A delightful story that speaks powerfully to the importance of representation. (Picture book. 3-7)

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October 28, 2019
Mother/daughter collaborators Jessica, a blogger, and four-year-old Parker unspool this story of an African-American girl’s powerful experience with portraiture from the family’s real-life museum visit. Ballerina Parker loves dance class, but when her mother suggests they head to the museum one day, the two and little sister Ava fasten their coats, splash through puddles on their way to Washington, D.C.’s National Portrait Gallery, and meet up with a friend, instead. With fast-paced curiosity, they view myriad famous works, reproduced throughout, until, on the way out, Amy Sherald’s statuesque portrait of Michelle Obama brings Parker to a full stop, wide-eyed and “spellbound” in Jackson’s digital art. The viewing sparks a change as Parker sees herself represented, feels “powerful and strong, and... inside she was dancing” as she contemplates “a road before her with new possibilities.” The anecdotal narrative is a bit loose in places, but the creators’ conceit—that representation makes all the difference—is profound. Ages 4–8.

November 15, 2019

PreS-Gr 1-Representation in any medium can be powerful. Based on a true story, this book follows Parker, a young African American girl, as she visits the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC, with family and friends. Seeing different paintings of key events and portraits of key figures throughout history, the child stops in her tracks when she sees Amy Sherald's portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama. The child is surprised because she sees an image in the museum that reflects her and opens her mind to a world of possibilities. Jackson's illustrations depict the adorable children, the grand halls of the gallery, and full-page paintings of the Smithsonian and pulls readers into the experience with Parker. VERDICT A great picture book to introduce a museum experience and to reinforce the importance of representation and its effects.-Ruth Guerrier-Pierre, New York Public Library

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