Adjoa J. Burrowes

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Book Description

Destiny loves words, and her favorite place in the world is Mrs. Wade's bookstore, where words abound. On Saturdays, Destiny helps Mrs. Wade at the store, and at day's end they relax together, drinking tea and reading. Then one Saturday Mrs. Wade does not seem her usual self, and Destiny later learns the store may have to close.

Destiny is determined not to let this happen. As she works to help keep the store open, she also creates an imaginative gift for Mrs. Wade that captures the warmth and special magic of the store forever.

Destiny's Gift is a heartwarming celebration of friendship and creativity, and a touching tribute to a child's love for reading and the power of words.

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Editorial Reviews

KIRKUS REVIEWS

Destiny loves words and, thus, loves Mrs. Wade and her bookstore. She visits Mrs. Wade at the bookstore twice a week to share stories, tea and cookies. But she's faced with the dilemma of Mrs. Wade closing up shop. This, of course, is unacceptable, so Destiny, with the assistance of her parents rallies the neighborhood in support of Mrs. Wade. As Destiny tries to save the store, she reflects on what makes it so important to her and shares these sentiments with Mrs. Wade in the form of a book she creates. Burrowes's paper give the characters a three dimensional feel...Still there are clever uses of familiar titles tucked into the books on the shelves and the feeling between Destiny and Mrs. Wade is clear. As the story ends, the future of the bookstore is still unclear, but everyone will understand the importance of books and the people who know and love them.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

A bittersweet ode to a beloved bookstore that is threatened with closure. Destiny loves words, and the store's owner has long fostered that love by allowing the girl to hang around, encouraging her to learn new words and letting her help stock shelves and water the plants. Their special relationship may come to an end, however, when Destiny learns that Mrs. Wade can no longer afford the rent. This quiet, evocative book clearly reflects the special sense of community that a wonderful neighborhood bookstore can bring. However, there are no pat solutions here; the story ends with the closure still looming in spite of a community effort to appeal to the landlord and raise funds. The only resolution is Destiny's gift, a gift of words in the form of a story she has written for Mrs. Wade. Collage illustrations in soothing tones...combine lovely, textured papers with pencil enhancements to create a warm, multicultural environment complete with well-stocked bookstore shelves. Pair this story with Arthur Levine's Pearl Moscowitz's Last Stand (Morrow, 1993; o.p.) to spark a conversation about the importance of community involvement. ...a worthwhile addition...

BOOKLIST

The local children's bookstore is a special place for Destiny, who visits there and helps out after school and on weekends. She has a close bond with the owner, Mrs. Wade, who shares books and talks about the magic of words and stories. Then the rent goes up and the store may have to close, and that galvanizes Destiny and her parents to organize the neighborhood with fund-raisers and demonstrations to try to save the store. The characters are idyllic, but there's no slick solution; it's never certain that the store will remain open. Burrowes' clear, bright collages of cut paper, watercolor and acrylics show individuals in a vital African American neighborhood, and the bookstore is a lively place with shelves of books displayed on almost every page. Many kids will relate to the adult who brings them the gift of a story--at home, at school, at the library, or at the bookstore.

BLACK ISSUES BOOK REVIEW

Destiny enjoys both writing and reading, and one of her favorite places to visit is Mrs. Wade's Bookstore. On Saturdays, Destiny stays in the store until it closes, she helps out by putting new books on the shelf, watering plants and such. During one of her weekly visits, Destiny discovers that the bookstore might close, and she then begins her campaign to help keep the store open. The story is a timely one. As many black-owned bookstores are closing their doors, the overall message here should alert everyone of the importance of our bookstores.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Tarpley (I Love My Hair!) and Burrowes (Grandma's Purple Flowers) deliver a love letter--to all youngsters who embrace the world of words, and to the independent booksellers who nurture their passion. Narrator Destiny, an aspiring writer and avid reader, makes her second home in the neighborhood bookstore owned by Mrs. Wade. Destiny's friend and mentor, Mrs. Wade is charismatic and stylish; working in collage, Burrowes gives the woman cut-paper silver dreadlocks that seem to bristle with creative energy...The first-person narrative captures Destiny's girlish voice and idealism, her budding observational powers and the way in which she, like all voracious readers, finds a magic in books that's independent of the words within their covers ('Sometimes I'd open a book, stick my nose in between the pages, and take a big whiff' says Destiny of the new arrivals. 'It smelled like ink and grass and the old clothes in my granny's closet'). The compositions'...quiet, sculptural feel conjure a sense of people and place, and anchors the story's mood of hopefulness...