A nice back story to a little known historical figure. I always appreciate when picture book bios are made about lesser known figures.

This well-written and illustrated picture book introduces the Jamaican poet Louise Bennett Coverley. Bright colors and detailed illustrations introduce the people she saw in her native Jamaica—men working, market women, teachers and children at school—while the words bring us the sounds she heard— the rhythm of the words of everyday people. When Louise began to attend a new school, she found just the acceptance and encouragement she needed to become a poet who wrote “dialect poems,” reflecting the speech of ordinary Jamaicans. This is a lovely book that reflects the author’s appreciation of the poet’s work. An author’s note at the end explains the author’s connection to Louise Bennett Coverley’s work.

I love discovering figures through books. I was utterly unfamiliar with Louise Coverley before reading this little text. And I love the lessons we can take away from her story. Kids need all kinds of heroes, people who come from different places and different backgrounds, who fight for equality of all sorts. Louse Coverley proved that there is art in all sorts of speech, that a person doesn't have to talk a certain way to be respected, intelligent, and artistic. It can be hard to convince a child to read about an unfamiliar figure but Fernandes' illustrations are lovely and compelling. Visual appeal will go a long way to helping this book find an audience.

A Likkle Miss Lou by Nadia Hohn tells the story of Louise Bennett Coverley and the childhood in Jamaica that ultimately formed her distinctive voice as a poet. This is a lovely, colourful story that strongly conjures the spirit of the beauty of Jamaica and its people. I found the story to be truly beautiful, not only visually, but through the generous use of patois verse.

Even very young children will identify with the concept of finding your own voice and identity through culture and locality. This is an illuminating and visually appealing story that deserves not only to be told, but to be shared.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Owlkids Books for this ARC.

A bright and colorful picture book about Louise Bennett-Coverley, an influential Jamaican poet, folklorist, and tv and radio personality who helped bring Jamaican patois to the world. The story celebrates her indomitable spirit, and the author's notes following the text give more detailed information about her life. A glossary of terms and explanation of references are included at the end. Miss Lou's poetry is sprinkled throughout, and is a lovely introduction to her work.

Everytime I visit Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, one of my favourite spaces is Miss Lou’s Room. Everytime I am in that space I always take the time to read all about Miss Lou on the walls, about her journey and her beautiful poetry. I have been following author Nadia L. Hohn on social media and have been eagerly anticipating her new book A Likkle Miss Lou. If you are not, give Nadia L. Hohn a follow. Her passion for her work just oozes out and you will certainly want to grab all of her books as you know there were written with passion from her heart. Her joy and her pride in her roots are evident and she joyously shares it through her beautiful picture books.

A Likkle Miss Lou tells the story of how Louise Bennett Coverley found her voice at a school called Excelsior (!). For a long time, young Louise’s love for the musical Jamaican patois she would hear everyday and filled her soul with happiness was discouraged. In school her voice would get trapped in her throat for fear her teacher would be disappointed. When she joined Excelsior she found the courage to share the words she heard around her everyday and was rewarded with cheers. That beautiful response gave her voice wings and she went on to become one of the most beloved poets and folk singers to come from the Caribbean.

The incredible illustrations by Eugenie Fernandes bring Miss Lou and her surroundings to life. The vibrant colours and vivid illustrations of all the people of Jamaica from whom Miss Lou draws her inspiration are lively illustrated, inviting the reader to Jamaica with Miss Lou to experience the life of the everyday person.

You will want to hop on to YouTube after reading to listen to Miss Lou herself, singing the songs she lovingly shared with the world and made the world embrace the patois that was part of her daily life. She was a trailblazer and paved the way and created room for other poets and musicians from the Caribbean

This bright and appealing picture book tells the story of poet Louise Bennett Coverley and her early attempts to find her voice as a child in Jamaica.

Samples of Miss Lou's poetry are sprinkled throughout the text, which is highlighted by colourful illustrations. There are lots of unfamiliar vocabulary words, but there is a nice glossary at the back. Also at the back is a short biographical sketch of Miss Lou, along with a lovely photo that captures the personality of this influential poet.

Overall, this is a solid biographical picture book for kids. Children of Caribbean descent, especially, will probably enjoy this one (as will their parents)!

A Likkle Miss Lou by Nadia Hohn is a picture book biography of Miss Lou, a Jamaican icon, who as a girl wanted to use her voice and the language she spoke and heard around her every day: Jamaican patois. This story deftly uses similes, metaphors, Jamaican folk songs, and dialect poems to show that we should all listen to and express ourselves in our own voice. It shows how the language of everyday people is important and should be honored.

The picture book includes a note from the author about Miss Lou's life and influence, a glossary, and references from the text.

This story is inspirational and aspirational; a must for teachers looking to include #ownvoices in their classroom read alouds and libraries.

I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This storybook was beautifully written. The author captured the little girls spirit and determination to make her voice heard through poetic prose. The vivid illustrations painted the colorful island and depicted Miss Lou s world. Loved it!

The sad thing about colonialism is that it robs the local people of their culture. They are taught that to speak like they normally do is bad, and wrong, and they should only speak proper English.

This book is the story of a woman that found that the only way she could actually speak was in the language of Jamaica, the language of the people. That that was how she found her voice, and spread that voice to others in the English speaking world.

The pictures are bright and colorful, and show details of Miss Lou's life in Jamaica.

<img src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/a-likkle-mis-lou-2.png" alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5226" />

<img src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/A-likkle-mis-lou-1.png" alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5225" />

The back of the book has a glossory of many of the words used, but I would have liked a CD to hear the words spoken as I'm sure they are quite enjoyable. A mor

This story had gorgeous illustrations and easy to understand dialogue for the little ones. It brings to light the story of a underrated trailblazer who helped bring patois mainstream but doesn't get the credit she deserves. Even though she knows how to speak "proper english" she also speaks in the voice of the everyday person in Jamaica. There's even a short bio at the end giving further insight into why this woman is so important. Can't wait to buy this for my niece.