The dramatic illustrations of Caldecott winner David Diaz describe best the senseless violence and destruction when everyone becomes a victim. In his innocence, he concludes that 'Maybe they just didn't know each other.' Told in the first person by a boy who describes the fires, the smoke, and rare relationships between neighbors who come together in the face of danger and concern for their missing pets. Riots as seen through the eyes of a child allows students to see and understand the urban violence of a riot gone wild. Riots, Caldecott Medal by Eve Bunting and Caldecott Illustrator David Diaz I understand the symbolism of the cats uniting with their owners, but that in itself does not magically change people’s minds about racist thoughts, regardless of what your color is.Smoky Night, A Story About Strangers in the L.A. It so delicately touched on the topic that is almost seems better to have left it out, rather than to leave the reader hanging. This book can be perceived as white privilege because the characters are minorities, which could suggest only riots occur around minorities and not whites. This book has won many awards and I do like the message it sends, but I feel that it barely touched on the race issue. Having the illustrations confirm that point was important. I’m sure this was the point because the theme of the story is to show how all humans are equal. There is no clear distinction between the Asian and African-American features. Regardless of varying races of people, everyone looks the same. Another area of confusion is the illustrations. The riots are not explained in depth and keeps the reader wondering the cause. It is a topic most children are unaware of. He tells them that they were found “holding paws” under the staircase in the apartment building.ĭaniel’s mother does well in explaining what a riot is to a young audience. Kim’s cat (Daniel’s Korean neighbor.) At the shelter, the fireman brings both Daniel’s and Mrs. During the riot, Daniel’s beloved cat Jasmine goes missing, along with Mrs. Due to the fire, he has to leave his apartment with his mother.

Daniel sees the fires and looting occurring outside his window. The families choose not to communicate with one another in the beginning of the story, because they are “different kinds.” The story is told through an African-American boy, Daniel. In the book, there are two families of two different races- African American and Korean. Smoky night, is a picture book by Eve Bunting, that focuses on race, urban violence and the Los Angeles riot.

Smoky night illustrations