Rachael MacFarlane

Author Rachael MacFarlane and illustrator Spencer Laudiero, who previously collaborated on Eleanor Wyatt, Princess and Pirate, join forces again in this new picture-book examination of emotions and being yourself. The eponymous Harrison Dwight informs the reader in the rhyming text that he is both ballerina and knight, going on to describe all of the different things he likes to do - football with Mom, picking flowers with Dad - and all of the feelings he experiences. In the end, he concludes with an affirmation of who he is...

One of a new crop of picture-books clearly meant to challenge gendered norms, when it comes to expectations of children's behavior and identity - think Pink Is for Boys, Jamie Is Jamie: A Book About Being Yourself and Playing Your Way, Big Bob, Little Bob, or Jacob's New Dress - Harrison Dwight, Ballerina and Knight has its heart in the right place, but somehow fell a little short for me. The rhyming text is bouncy enough, but somehow felt a little too pointed, in its efforts to disrupt stereotypes. That might be forgiven, in a message book (which this clearly is), but unfortunately I also found the artwork here unappealing. Laudiero's background in animation is evident in these illustrations, but they were just too cartoon-like (and a little bit too flat) for my taste. Others might feel differently, so if readers are in the market for a counter-stereotypical examination of a young boy's emotional life, this might fit the bill, but overall I'd recommend something like Jamie Is Jamie or Big Bob, Little Bob instead.… (meer)