Joan Kindig, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
Reenie and her Mama wake up early on Saturday mornings to get down to the river before the carp wake. And once those rods hit the water, the fish fairly jump onto their lines! Reenie and Mama have a secret to catching those fish--corn pellets. Worms are too scrawny and the carp like the corn best of all. Often while they are fishing, Peter and his father come down to fish as well. Because Reenie and her Mama are black and Peter and his father are white, they stay on different sides of the riverbank. It is this that prompts Mama to explain the Jim Crow laws to Reenie. "Black people have a place, white people have a place..." she says. But Reenie is not content with that and goes over to Peter and offers him some of her corn pellets. This story of separation is set in simple terms so that young children can understand the reality of the Jim Crow laws. It sends a clear message that it takes just one person reaching out to create a bridge across the dividing waters. Shane Evans' cover illustration is of a beautiful young black girl who is shyly stealing looks at her neighbor and invited you immediately into the book. The illustrations show the river running through almost every page, reminding the reader of the people on different sides of that river. Evans' pictures do not specify a certain time period which allows this book to appear as timeless as the story itself. Fishing Day is about far more than fishing. 2003, Jump At The Sun/Hyperion, $15.99. Ages 5 to 9.

CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2004)
A story set in the Jim Crow South features a young Black girl unwilling to let an invisible dividing line stand in the way of her desire to help someone in need. Reenie loves to fish with her mama, and they know the right bait to use to keep their lines busy. Pigeon, a poor white boy, and his brooding father who are fishing near them aren't catching anything. Mama has made it clear to Reenie, and Pigeon's father to him, that they are not to speak to one another. It's the way things have always been, Reenie's mama tells her. But when Pigeon's sadness becomes impossible to ignore, Reenie reaches out, sharing her bait and advice. Andrea Davis Pinkney's story underscores how important-and big-a seemingly small act can be. In her author's note, she writes that even without Jim Crow laws, during her own childhood in New York, she felt as if she were on one side of an invisible fence, with white children on the other. Shane W. Evans's illustrations vary from full-page artwork to smaller boxed images set against the backdrop of a running river. CCBC categories: Picture Books for School-Aged Children; Historical People, Places, and Events. 2003, Jump at the Sun / Hyperion, 32 pages, $15.99 and $16.49. Ages 5-8.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, November 1, 2003 (Vol. 71, No. 21))
Reenie and her mom are having fun and great success while fishing in Jim Crow River, while Peter and his father are fishing for food and have nothing to show for it. Distanced by race and by fear of change, Reenie and Peter watch each other surreptitiously, but are firmly kept from interacting by their parents. When Peter is left alone for a few moments, Reenie takes the opportunity to help him. The next time they see each other, they manage a small wave. Told in the present tense, the style will enable the modern-day reader to feel the constrictions of segregation's rules of conduct. In an afterword, Pinkney explains the role of prejudice in her own life and the wish to reach beyond boundaries. Evans's illustrations get to the core of the story. As a stylized river runs through the pages, he clearly depicts the events as well as the characters' feelings. A gentle tale with a big punch. 2003, Hyperion, $15.99. Category: Picture book. Ages 7 to 10. © 2003 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Deborah Stevenson (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, January 2004 (Vol. 57, No. 5))
Reenie and her mother have a cozy tradition of fishing for carp from the shores of what’s locally known as Jim Crow River. They’re pretty successful, but the white father and son fishing nearby, the Troops, don’t do as well: they don’t know the secret of bringing the carp to the surface with a scattering of corn kernels, and the boy is so restless he disturbs the fish. Though at first frustrated by the boy’s foolishness, Reenie listens to her mother’s understanding advice (and the information that the Troops need these fish to eat) and breaks local tradition by approaching young Peter Troop; after she provides him with advice and corn kernels, the Troops’ fishing gets results, and the seeds of a friendship between Reenie and Peter have been planted. Pinkney’s writing is quietly understated, avoiding sentimentality and preachiness, and there’s a pleasing flow to the present-tense narration as well as some touches of authentic humor (young Peter sings "a ditty that I’d bet a whole dollar makes the carp want to plug their ears"). Strong faces are the highlight of Evans’ illustrations, with backgrounds minimal and the river stylized swirls of blue; a stillness pervades the scenes, nicely corresponding to the low-key tone of Pinkney’s prose. Use this with Jacqueline Woodson’s The Other Side (BCCB 2/01) for a look at kids meeting despite the boundaries of prejudice, or just bring it out as a welcome fishing story with a bit of extra depth. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2004, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2003, Jump at the Sun/Hyperion, 32p, $15.99. Ages 5-8 yrs.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2004)
Reenie and Mama enjoy fishing along the bank of Jim Crow River, but Peter and his father fish out of necessity. Mama explains why they ignore one another: "We and white folks have kept our distance here, for as long as memory serves." But Reenie is kind to Peter, and this small act helps him shed some of his prejudices. Evans's standout illustrations add poignancy to the story. Category: Picture Books. 2003, Hyperion/Jump, 32pp, $15.99, $16.49. Ages 4 to 9. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.

Patty Kunkel (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 16, No. 3))
Reenie and her mama love to go fishing down by the river. Their favorite fishing spot is often marred by the arrival of Peter Troop and his daddy. Reenie and her mama are black and go fishing for fun. Peter Troop and his dad are white and fish for food to eat. One day when the Troops' fishing reel breaks, Reenie overcomes mutual fear and mistrust to help Peter. She offers him some corn for fishing and one of her gloves. He reluctantly takes the glove but won't take the corn. After Reenie shows him how to bait a hook and use corn for feed, Peter is successful in finally making a catch. This is the beginning of an act that holds the promise of friendship and understanding. This would be a book to share with students about differences, generosity, and kindness. Fiction. Grades K-5. 2003, Jump at the Sun, Unpaged., $15.99. Ages 5 to 11.