My Day with the Panye

Starred review from January 1, 2021

PreS-Gr 3-Manman is planning a special day for her daughter, Fallon, in the markets of Port-au-Prince, and little sister Naima will have to wait her turn. Charles sprinkles Haitian words into the text that give texture to this loving book, which is part interpersonal story and a part travelogue of sights and sounds."Manman wraps her hair in a silk mouchwa, brighter than the Caribbean sea. I twist my sun-yellow scarf into my braids, but it doesn't look as good as hers." Palacio's brilliant illustrations of slightly stylized, elongated figures with mahogany skin tones, make the meanings clear, as Manman adds a panye, or basket, to the mouchwa on her head, for bringing back supplies. Along the way, Fallon longs to carry the panye, but her mother cautions her that these things take time. There are metaphors for carrying the panye that extend to Haiti itself-that it sways under the weight of sad events but it is not crushed. The poetic writing and Fallon's assessment of her ability will touch children deeply. An author's note tells of Charles's affinity for and connection to Haiti, and the significance of the panye globally. VERDICT A few facts, a generous worldview, and a bonding of mother and daughter makes this book ideal for story hours and lap-sharing.-Kimberly Olson Fakih, School Library Journal

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2020
"In the hills of Port-au-Prince," little Fallon has a lot on her mind as she accompanies her mother into the bustling market, but more than anything, she wants to carry a panye on her head. When Manman invites her on this rite of passage for the women in their family, Fallon delights in seeing her mother carrying the titular woven basket upon her head through their lively Haitian community. Using rich colors and textures, Palacios imagines a world of plush green spaces and sandy roadways enveloping a Caribbean urban center swirling with brown faces amid colorful buildings. Charles' story follows the traveling duo as Manman's enviable grace and strength with the panye upon her head mirror other women's. Readers' eyes wander across landscapes of Francophone signage and busy commerce to find Fallon and her mother in the thick of things. At other times, pointed use of negative space makes connections between the panye and family, care and balance, explicit to both Fallon and readers. A friendly yet unacknowledged dog tagging along for the trip is a winsome detail, but readers will notice that Palacios misses some opportunities to expand on the text. Even though Krey�l dialogue and phrases are at times left untranslated, clarity comes with both contextual clues and the story's overarching sentiment that things of great importance--like a bird's nest, or nich zwazo--take time. Images and text may not always be in sync, but Fallon is as easy to root for as Haiti is lovely to gaze upon in this graceful book. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-9)

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February 1, 2021
Grades K-2 Fallon couldn't be more excited about accompanying Manman to the market. She not only gets to wrap her hair in a mouchwa in imitation of her mother but also gets to carry the panye. It's an honor and a rite of passage for which Fallon, and all the girls in Haiti, must be ready. Fallon balances the basket on her head for a moment before it topples off. Manman reassures her that she must be patient--"little by little the bird builds its nest"--and advises Fallon to be observant when they're at the market. This advice isn't lost on Fallon, and readers might also take note of the wisdom. While the text honors the work of women and girls who keep communities strong and traditions meaningful, Palacios' cheerful illustrations are as vibrant and lush as the island itself, a perfect complement to Charles' tribute to the women of Haiti. An author's note provides context and deeper recognition of the coexistent beauty and devastation that the island and its people have endured for centuries.

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