Greetings, Leroy

March 1, 2017
In this loving tale of family migration and making home anew, young Roy's embrace of Bob Marley gives him comfort on his first day of school after the family moves to Canada. Roy's family is beginning a new life in an unnamed Canadian town (probably Toronto), where, most briskly, Roy recognizes the supreme contradiction a Jamaican new to Canada experiences. "Leroy, the sun was shining bright, bright outside, but when I put my head out the window, my ears felt a little cold," he explains in an email to his friend back home. After two unanswered emails, Roy is writing his third missive to his buddy, the titular Leroy. Roy and his father share a deep love of "one of the world's greatest and most caring musicians," Bob Marley, and his Irish-immigrant neighbor, Ms. Muir, offers him a signature button of Marley's to wear on his first day of school. When Roy's classmates welcome him with his favorite tune "One Love," he looks down to realize that his button is missing. Will he find his button? Will Leroy ever respond to his email? These are the turnkey questions of this lighthearted tale. Sadu and Delinois neatly honor the cultural contributions made by the longtime community of Jamaicans that have settled in Canada, bridging the two worlds to make home anew. A much-needed window and mirror of immigrant experience for young readers. (Picture book 4-7)

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April 1, 2017
Gr 1-4-Roy, a Jamaican immigrant to Canada, emails his friend Leroy to tell him about his first day of school. Roy wakes up hearing Bob Marley and the Wailers, his father's favorite band, and thinks about the meaning behind the lyrics. As he leaves for school, a neighbor calls Bob Marley a great man and gives Roy a Bob Marley pin to wear on his first day. Roy is nervous, but he becomes excited when he sees a poster of Bob Marley in his principal's office and is delighted when he is introduced to his new classmates. -The whole class stood and said, 'Welcome, Roy, one love.' How did they know that 'One Love' is one of my favorite Bob Marley songs?- Roy wonders. He wants to show off his pin but discovers that it is gone. Roy solves the mystery of the missing pin and shares his prized possession with his new classmates, full of happiness and pride that he is Jamaican like Marley. The bold, warm, and expressive illustrations add depth to the text. Roy's voice is culturally authentic, but the email format makes him seem rather formal and flat, and some readers may be initially confused about who is speaking vs. who is shown in the illustrations. The setting, format, and length make the story best suited for sharing with older students, who will enjoy solving the mystery and discussing Roy's experiences. VERDICT A solid additional purchase for large collections and those in need of different types of immigrant stories.-Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2017
Grades 1-3 In conversational, gently chiding e-mails to his friend Leroy back in Jamaica, Roy describes his new home and school in Canada. A unifying theme of Roy's missives is his admiration for Bob Marley. Roy's father is a big fan of the iconic singer, whose music reminds them of home. Though he's nervous about his first day of school, a special gift from his neighbora Bob Marley buttonhelps in more ways than one. In his principal's office, he's pleased to notice a picture of Bob Marley playing soccer, and his classmates greet him by quoting a Bob Marley song! The good beginning is almost ruined by the temporary loss of the button, but new friends help Roy find it. Roy's family, the principal, and his teacher are all black, while the students are depicted with a variety of skin tones. No reason is given for the family's move, making the book applicable to many situations. Bright acrylic and mixed-media illustrations further establish the upbeat tone in this story about finding comforting touchstones in a new home.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2018
Roy, who has emigrated from Jamaica, emails his friend Leroy about his first day of school in his new Canadian city. He's greeted with Bob Marley references everywhere: his Irish neighbor gives him a Marley button; his classmates greet him with "Welcome, Roy, one love"; and more. While a bit contrived, this mature picture book demonstrates a warm, positive perspective on immigration. Bold paintings show Canadian urban diversity.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)