Elijah's Easter Suit

Starred review from November 1, 2023
Preschool-Grade 3 *Starred Review* Elijah looks forward to attending church on Easter Sunday, when there are two rules: "#1. Show up! #2. Look good!" Members of the congregation strut down the aisle showing off their finery, but only one earns a shout-out from Reverend White. Elijah consults two church elders, who encourage him to create a look that honors the culture and celebrates new beginnings. Though Elijah's father takes him to boutiques and thrift shops, nothing looks right. But using his family's discarded clothing and a little help with sewing, Elijah creates his own suit. On Easter Sunday, his patchwork suit reflects elements of his family's past while earning praise from Reverend White and the congregation. Boateng, a Ghanaian artist, illustrates the characters and setting with expression and vivid colors. Jackson has a storyteller's knack for structuring the narrative. During the shopping segment, the text takes on rhythm and rhyme for a nice change of tempo. In an appended note, Jackson reflects on Easter shopping as a child and notes that more than a century earlier, enslaved people were forced to wear clothing made from coarse "slave cloth" six days a week, but they could legally wear brighter colors and finer fabrics on Sundays. A picture book honoring both the past and the present.

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December 1, 2023

Gr 1-3-Inspiration may be found in this story for those who love to don their finest during the spring holidays. This year, Elijah is determined for the reverend to deem him the best-dressed at their Easter service, so he tries on a multitude of colorful suits. Yet none feel right. After an inspiring discussion with church elders, he uses his ingenuity and a sewing machine to take fabric scraps from his family to create a perfect patchwork suit to impress and honor his community. While young readers will appreciate the triumph of Elijah's creativity, elementary classroom teachers may also find this to be a useful tool for discussions about Black history. In the back matter, Jackson shares memories of suit shopping with his father before offering readers insight into the historical and cultural significance of Black churchgoers' elaborate and beautiful clothes. Adults will likely pick up on the homages to Prince and other Black celebrities as Elijah tries on suits in the beginning of the story. This otherwise capable picture book's only hiccup is its illustrations: while they are adorable, there are times when the wide-eyed faces come off as flat and expressionless. VERDICT A sweet, unique take on Easter that also functions as an homage to the Black American experience.-Alexandra Quay

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 15, 2023
If you can't find what you want, make it. Elijah, a young Black child, attends Third Avenue Church, where the two rules of Easter are "show up" and "look good." Last year, Mother Green's "hat the size of Saturn" earned a shoutout from Reverend White; the year before, it was Deacon Brown's head-to-toe red getup. Hoping to be the first kid ever to earn the preacher's Easter kudos, Elijah tries hard to find the right outfit. But nothing seems right. Mother Green and Deacon Brown tell Elijah that when laws prevented African Americans from shopping in stores, they repurposed family clothes to make new ones; knowing where "every stitch of cloth came from" made it special. Deacon Brown reminds Elijah that Easter isn't about competition but about honoring history. Elijah goes home and gathers fabrics that hold fond memories to create his Easter suit. Jackson's culturally rich text, which rhymes at key moments, and Boateng's vibrant images--particularly of the textured patterned of clothing--make for a delightful and entertaining read. From character names to illustrations depicting each person with a unique physique and style, these creators' attention to detail is notable. The backmatter explores the role of slavery and the post-Civil War era to explain why Easter ensembles have historically been so important in the Black community. A wonderful story of a tradition as unforgettable as the fabulous titular suit. (Picture book. 3-7)

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