Donna T. Brumby (Children's Literature)
Young Amber's daddy says that his sister lives in a "junk pile," but Amber is intrigued and captivated by her Aunt Phoebe's eclectic collection of life, especially the interesting, beautiful adrinka cloth from Ghana. Rhonda Mitchell's bright paintings include only the details necessary to the story, excellently illustrating the personalities of her characters and the brilliance of the adrinka cloth. Aunt Phoebe "knows things," and encourages her niece, and all of us, to continually grow on the inside. The fascinating story of The Talking Cloth should appeal to inquiring young readers, and it offers parents and educators a useful stepping-off point for leading further investigation and hands-on amplification. 1997, Orchard Books, $15.95 and $16.99. Ages 3 to 9.

CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 1997)
Amber likes to visit her Aunt Phoebe who owns "things and things and things." She calls it her "collection of life" but Amber's father calls it "junk." Aunt Phoebe can tell the history of everything she owns. Much of it comes from the African continent and is part of her family heritage. Amber is especially intrigued with Aunt Phoebe's "talking cloth"--adinkra cloth from Ghana--because every color and every symbol has a meaning. Sharp oil paintings reflect the pride that Amber feels in her heritage and the enthusiasm for it that she shares with her aunt. Honor Book, CCBC Coretta Scott King Award Discussion: Illustration CCBC categories: Picture Books; Historical People, Places and Events. 1997, Orchard, 32 pages, $15.95. Ages 4-7.

J. Bauman (Parent Council Volume 5)
Take a journey with Amber to Aunt Phoebe's house where there is a story behind each household object. Amber learns about her Black heritage through her aunt's stories. 1997, Orchard Books, $15.95. Ages 3 to 8.

Janice M. Del Negro (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, June 1997 (Vol. 50, No. 10))
Amber is visiting her Aunt Phoebe, "a collector of life" as Amber's mother calls her, and reveling in the Africana that decorates her apartment. "Aunt Phoebe knows things," and she explains those things to Amber and her skeptical father. Phoebe explains the origin of adinkra cloth to her niece, telling her that the cloth originated with the Ashanti people in Ghana, and that each cloth "talks" because each color and symbol means something. Amber then imagines herself an Ashanti princess connected to a long line of ancestors, all wearers of the adinkra. This is an African-American family history lesson set forth in an accessible, gentle narrative. Aunt Phoebe and Amber's father are brother and sister, and their banter has the tone of a long-standing, well-understood family joke. Amber is a glowing, smiling young girl with a believably strong interest in her aunt's stories of her travels and of African culture. While the human figures are somewhat stiff, the compositions of Mitchell's oil paintings are inviting, the colors warm and rich against the cool white background. Large text with generous leading adds to the simple layout making this a visually uncluttered, easy-to-read title. R--Recommended. (c) Copyright 1997, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 1997, Jackson/Orchard, 32p, $16.99 and $15.95. Grades 2-5.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, 1997)
Amber's dad disapproves of his sister's cluttered home, but Amber loves Aunt Phoebe's artistic collection, especially the Ashanti talking cloths, whose colors and symbols each carry meaning. Amber imagines talking cloths for her own family. Bold oil paintings with expressive patterns focus on relationships. The tensions between adult siblings are realistically portrayed. Category: Fiction. 1997, Watts, 32pp.. Ages 5 to 9. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.