Me and The Boss: A Story About Mending and Love by Michelle Edwards, illustrated by April Harrison

Me and The Boss

By Michelle Edwards, illustrated by April Harrison

Coretta Scott King Honor Book

Ages 4+, grades PK+

In Me and The Boss, six-year-old Lee follows the lead of his big sister, Zora. In a trip to their library, the two learn a new skill together. Though Zora excels immediately and Lee struggles at first, he continues to practice and, later, thoughtfully employs his new skill to mend his sister’s bear.

Justification

Me and The Boss was a mostly random pick from the Coretta Scott King honors list. The striking cover art by illustrator April Harrison caught my attention, and I erroneously assumed from the subtitle, A Story About Mending and Love, that the characters might experience a rupture and repair in their narrative. As a mom of two often-quarelling young siblings, I love a good story about making mistakes and making amends. While this story is not that– it is about literal mending, as Lee and Zora are introduced to the skill of needlework in their trip to the library– it is a sweet story about the dynamic of siblings and the ways they may show their love for one another.

Content

Michelle Edward’s text is straightforward and very accessible for younger readers/listeners. The story is narrated in first person by Lee, and while some adult readers might find the wording a bit clunky at times, I can see two things at work here: diverse cultural and dialectical influences (as Lee and his family are Black), and quirky uses of language consistent with the way a six-year-old may actually describe his experiences. For example, when Lee is up late practicing his stitching, he says: “With my needle, I poke a stitch and snag my hurt finger. I quick brave another. That tiger’s tooth, mean and sharp, catches me again. Take your time, Lee.” I appreciate this aspect of the story, and think it lends the book character and gives us a greater glimpse into how Lee thinks. I also appreciate that, while the storyline is quite simple and takes place in less than 24 hours,the understanding we gain of Lee and Zora’s relationship far surpasses the single day. Zora is the boss, the leader who doles out instructions and enforces rules, and Lee is the younger, not-yet-so-confident tag-a-long. However, Zora isn’t painted as plainly bossy; she uses her confidence to advocate for her brother and keep them both safe. While Lee’s gesture of repairing Zora’s bear doesn’t change their relationship, it doesn’t have to– it brings them to a tender moment in which Zora wraps him in a grateful hug and, as Lee explains, “we share something that is bigger than my pocket, bigger than Bess’s ear, maybe even bigger than me or Zora.”

Illustrations

Harrison’s illustrations are engrossing. She works in collage and mixed-media painting, so on every read-through you’re likely to catch something new in her images. The layers of bright, sometime clashing patterns and colors keep readers’ attention, and also lend a sense of familiarity to each scene, like yes, this plaid came from a real men’s button-up shirt and yes, a real-life Zora would likely wear that checkerboard skirt with a bright batik blouse. Me and The Boss isn’t Harrison’s first award-winning work; her very first children’s book, What is Given from the Heart, won the John Steptoe Award New Talent. Her style in this book compliments the simplicity of Edwards story while offering a colorful depth in this view of a day in the life of these two siblings.

Edwards, M. (2022). Me and the boss (A. Harrison, Illus.). Anne Schwartz Books.