The Ring Bearer

by Floyd Cooper (Author) Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Mama's getting married, and Jackson has an important job to do! A story about love, weddings, and the special joy that is a blended family.

Jackson's mama is getting married, and he gets to be the ring bearer. But Jackson is worried . . . What if he trips? Or walks too slowly? Or drops the rings? And what about his new stepsister, Sophie? She's supposed to be the flower girl, but Jackson's not sure she's taking her job as seriously as she should.

In a celebration of blended families, this heartwarming story, stunningly illustrated by the award-winning Floyd Cooper, is a perfect gift for any child who's nervous to walk down the aisle at a wedding, and shows kids that they can handle life's big changes.

Praise for The Ring Bearer

"Throughout, Cooper's softly textured mixed-media illustrations offer a warm, affirming depiction of this black family's life and love together . . . Readers will be joining the congregation in cheering for Jackson."--Kirkus Reviews

"Written with simplicity, immediacy, and warmth....Cooper creates beautiful effects with subtle colors, textures, and suffused light in the soft-focus paintings. A heartening, reassuring picture book."--Booklist

"Children will identify readily with Jackson's fears and enjoy the way he overcomes them. A solid purchase for any picture book collection."--School Library Journal

"Many children experience parental weddings, and these times are filledwith joy and nervousness. Cooper captures each moment."--Horn Book

Select format:
Hardcover
$18.99

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2--It's the day Jackson's mother is getting married, and the boy is anxious about many things. He is the ring bearer, and he's concerned about tripping as he goes down the aisle. Jackson is also getting a new stepsister named Sophie, and he's not sure what to think about that. He's also not sure about calling the man he knew as Bill "Dad." Sophie is the flower girl, and with a little coaching from Grandpop, the kids are ready to go down the aisle. Ignoring Grandpop's advice, Sophie skips instead of walking slowly, and trips on a step. Jackson sees what's happening, catches her before she falls, and saves the day to cheers and applause. Cooper's signature grainy paintings work in tandem with the text. His style is timeless; the pictures represent events that could have happened 50 years ago or just last week. The repetition of words and phrases will bolster confidence in young readers just as Jackson's confidence is built up by his family's loving kindness. VERDICT Children will identify readily with Jackson's fears and enjoy the way he overcomes them. A solid purchase for any picture book collection.--Jennifer Steib Simmons, Anderson County Library, SC

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Praise for The Ring Bearer

Throughout, Cooper's softly textured mixed-media illustrations offer a warm, affirming depiction of this black family's life and love together . . . Readers will be joining the congregation in cheering for Jackson.—Kirkus

Written with simplicity, immediacy, and warmth....Cooper creates beautiful effects with subtle colors, textures, and suffused light in the soft-focus paintings. A heartening, reassuring picture book.—Booklist

Children will identify readily with Jackson's fears and enjoy the way he overcomes them. A solid purchase for any picture book collection.—School Library Journal

Many children experience parental weddings, and these times are filledwith joy and nervousness. Cooper captures each moment.—Horn Book
Floyd Cooper
Floyd Cooper (www.floydcooper.com) always dreamed of becoming an artist, and he has now illustrated dozens of books for children, including Jump! (From the Life of Michael Jordan), Back of the Bus, and Max and the Tag-Along Moon. He received a Coretta Scott King Award for his illustrations in The Blacker the Berry and a Coretta Scott King Honor for his illustrations in Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea and I Have Heard of a Land. He lives in New Jersey with his family. Follow him on Twitter @floydcooper4.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780399167409
Lexile Measure
540
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Philomel Books
Publication date
April 04, 2017
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039090 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | New Experience
JUV013020 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Marriage & Divorce
JUV013080 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Blended Families
Library of Congress categories
African Americans
Stepfamilies
Weddings
Wedding attendants

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