The young narrator of this recent picture-book from author Susan Verde and illustrator John Parra addresses himself to the massive wall which dominates his neighborhood. Bare, blank, uncared-for, the wall feels cold and lonely to the boy. As he and his friends go about their lives, so full of fun and laughter, the wall is always there in the background. Finally, the boy enlists the entire community's help, in turning the wall into something beautiful - something that reflects who they are how they live their lives...

As the afterwords from author and illustrator make plain, the subject-matter of Hey Wall: A Story of Art and Community is one dear to its creators' hearts. Having not grown up in a neighborhood with murals, I don't have a deep emotional attachment to the subject matter myself, but I do feel that Verde and Parra do an excellent job communicating how meaningful such artwork can be, and how its creation can bring a community together. I found the text alternately matter-of-fact and poignant, in appealing ways, and thought the illustrations were lovely, capturing the vitality and sense of movement in an urban environment. Recommended to anyone looking for new children's stories about street art and/or community endeavors. ( )

Independent Reading Level: Grades 2-3