A Likkle Miss Lou

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.

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)!

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

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.