Harlem Honey: The Adventures of a Curious Kid

Hall (the Jordan Manning series, for adults) makes her picture book debut with a heartwarming tribute to a beloved N.Y.C. neighborhood. Young Moses feels homesick for Texas, “where he knew everybody, and everybody knew him.” Now, a month into living in his new Harlem home, city noise replaces the soothing sounds of nature, and only Mom’s silly rhymes can make him smile. When a bee’s arrival through the open window leads Moses to meet neighbors Mrs. Louise and Laila, who have a rooftop honey farm, Moses joins them in delivering honey to Harlem landmarks. With animal friends in tow, they visit Sylvia’s soul food restaurant, the Apollo Theater, and more. Vibrant, colorblock-leaning illustrations by Glenn (Bella Ballerina) capture the neighborhood’s lively atmosphere through rich, warm colors and dynamic scenes. By day’s end, the child loves his new community (“Moses could hear hip-hop music.... And on each street corner they crossed, he caught whiffs of mouth-watering foods”), even telling his mother, “Harlem is like magic.” The children are portrayed with brown skin; background characters are shown with various skin tones. More about Harlem concludes. Ages 4–8. Illustrator’s agent: Anne Moore Armstrong, Bright Agency. (Mar.)