Jamaica and Brianna [Hardcover]

Juanita Havill (Author), Anne Sibley O'Brien (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 1993 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

It's wintertime again, and Jamaica has to wear her brother Ossie's hand-me-down boots. She finds herself envious of her friend Brianna's pink boots with the fuzzy cuffs, and Brianna teases her about her ugly, old "boy" boots. But one word brings reconciliation for the two friends.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Peer approval and the need for good communication are the themes of this quietly appealing story. Like many younger siblings, Jamaica is often stuck wearing hand-me-downs, in this case, her big brother's "old gray boots." After her friend Brianna makes fun of Jamaica for wearing "boy boots," the resourceful heroine enlarges a hole in the toe of one of the offending galoshes, thus speeding up the need for a trip to the shoe store. When Jamaica returns to school, resplendent in a brand-new pair of cowboy boots, Brianna is once again ready with a put-down. Hurt, Jamaica retaliates with a remark about Brianna's own footwear. As in her previous Jamaica books, Havill displays a clear grasp of what matters to children. The simple, direct prose finds its complement in O'Brien's cozy, realistic watercolors. The pictures of Jamaica and Brianna are convincing; an additional pleasure are the vividly rendered bit players (Jamaica's classmates and family) who grace the background of nearly every page. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Another charming book about Jamaica, a young African-American girl. This time, the story concerns what happens when she and Brianna, an Asian-American classmate, allow envy to undermine their friendship. Jamaica has to wear her older brother's outgrown, worn-out boots one snowy day. She is not happy about this, and is not helped by Brianna's unfeeling comments. Nor does she appreciate her friend's mean remarks when she gets new boots. Both girls are upset and angry, but they are able to work things out in a satisfying way. O'Brien's illustrations are realistically and beautifully done. They derive their power from the artist's ability to re-create the whole gamut of emotions that can be reflected in little girls' faces. Her solid watercolor paintings wonderfully complement the text, which is gentle and understated. Never preachy or overly dramatic, Havill's tender and sensitive story can be used to help young children deal with negative feelings.
Carol Jones Collins, Montclair Kimberley Academy, NJ
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (September 27, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395644895
• ISBN-13: 978-0395644898
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,690,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars pretty good, December 30, 2011

By 

renae - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jamaica and Brianna (Hardcover)

I purchased it because of the title and it had a unexpected message to convey. It is overall a good book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Jamaica and Brianna, March 21, 2006

By 

RKM "RKM" (New York) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jamaica and Brianna (Paperback)

A lovely book. My 5 1/2 loves it and I love the message it conveys.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bibliotherapy: Jealously, January 26, 2005

By 

April Stevens (Eugene, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jamaica and Brianna (Paperback)

Jamaica and Brianna written by Juanita Havill illustrated by Anne Sibley O'Brien

Jamaica and Brianna is a story about two young girls and their rain boots. Jamaica has to wear her older brother plain black boots with a hole in one of the toes while her friend Brianna has pink boots with pink fluff around the top cuff of the boots. Jamaica wants boots like her friend, so she picks at the hole in her boot until it's so big her mom will has to get her new ones. Instead of picking boots like Brianna's she picks boots that are just right for her. Back at school Brianna tells Jamaica that her boots aren't the in thing, and as a response she tells Brianna her boots are ugly. Both girls are sad and unhappy about the things they have said to one another. They end up telling each other that were jealous of each other's boots and they apologize and become friend once again.

I find the subject matter to be relevant to today's children. I don't find that there is any outdated material present in the story. The book presents a very diverse world, which is important for today society.

The reading level of this book is first or second grade reading level. If I were to use it as a read aloud I would also use it in Kindergarten. I believe it could also be used with preschool. The content of the story is understandable and appropriate for preschool through second grade.

The book could be read to the class in one sitting. Most pages only have one paragraph on them with the rest of the page filled up with illustrations. The illustrations are watercolor and do a good job conveying the snowy outdoors and the warmth of inside. It is twenty-five pages long.

The developmental level of Jamaica and Brianna is preschool through second grade. I think it is appropriate for all these levels because you can do different activities depending on the developmental level as follow up. Preschooler will probably need more guidance in discussing the book as opposed to a second grader. However, I believe that preschool through second grade would all be able to relate and understand the book.

The main character in the story is an African-American girl and her friend is of Asian background. And throughout the book the teacher and the other students in the illustration are from a different race or ethnic background. That is not the focus of the book, but with emergent and young readers they tend to study the illustrations, therefore I think that it is important and valuable for them to see.

I would use this book with the whole class because I feel the topic is something that we all experience in life. Therefore, its not specifically targeting a specialized issue one child is going through. It is more of a general feeling or emotion that is felt by all.

The general feeling or emotion in this story is jealously. Jealously is the main topic of the book. The author has a way of conveying that feeling without making it complicated. It's simple and relatively easy to relate to. However, some students will need help relating it to their own lives. I would use this book as a discussion starter or depending on the developmental level and age a writing project.

The downfall of the book is that the main characters are girls. I would like to balance this book with another story about jealously with characters other that girls are the main characters or the story. The values in this book are being thankful for what you have, being proud and friendship.