We Are Allies! by Taimani Emerald is a short book. Even though it has been out for over a year, I found an online reader copy. And I am curious about how the final copy looks. Things are pretty basic with how you can be an ally. And though, yes it does focus a bit more on the GLBTQ aspect, being an ally is pretty simple. You stand up to help when people need it. You try to stop something that is not right. And you apologize if you hurt someone’s feelings (with words, actions, inactions) even if you didn’t mean to. In other words, pretty common sense, everyday things we should be doing as a good person in a community.
The whole package is nice. Nothing fancy, but still has a good edge to it. I liked it. Maybe not OMG BEST BOOK EVER but I liked it. I liked how Ally is not some “big bad unobtainable, impossible thing that only superheroes do” but just basic decency. Ally has been presented this way in several things I have read or glossed over, or maybe even a “less than” the one “needing the ally.” I like how it is straightforward and adaptable to most ages (from young to around eight or so).
The illustrations are nice and I liked them. They are colorful and simple without pretension or being too “artsy” and are not stale or missing something. I like the way they are given to us by Emerald. They make the whole package pleasant to read and to view. And if you hadn’t guessed, I like We Are Allies! and look forward to finding more from this author.
