My Feet Are Laughing

Norman, Lissette. My Feet Are Laughing. Illustrated by Frank Morrison. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2006. ISBN 0374350965. $16.00. Ages 4-8.

The picture book My Feet Are Laughing written by Lissett Norman and illustrated by Frank Morrison follows a little African American girl through her life with her mother and little sister in Harlem through poems. Norman wrote these poems as if Sadie, the main character, crafted them about her own life. Because these imaginative poems let us into the life of this young vibrant girl, we can see the day-to-day happenings in an African American family. One way we see into Sadie's glitzy world is through the illustrations drawn by Frank Morrison. While the art medium is unknown, the characters take on a sort of cartoon boldness. Morrison decided to make the characters look like everyday people, yet not like photographs in the least. I think that these illustrations add so much to the vibrant style of this book by bringing out the child-like qualities in Sadie's life. I feel that the book brings out the child in anyone who picks it up. We can all relate to Sadie's experiences and how she deals with everyday occurrences. While we may not all hide under the bed so our hair won't be brushed, we still understand how she feels about letting her hair down and free! This book is absolutely worth picking up and giving a good read!

Laura Porreca, BGSU student