Connie Schofield-Morrison and Frank Morrison teamed up for the first time to capture the rhythm of the neighborhood in I Got the Rhythm. Connie has been writing since she was a young girl and is inspired every day by the big sounds and bright colors of the world around her. Frank works as a fine artist and is the award-winning illustrator of many books for children, including Our Children Can Soar and Jazzy Miz Mozetta, for which he won the Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award for New Talent. Connie and Frank live in Atlanta, Georgia, with their five children. - (McMillan Palgrave)

Horn Book Guide Reviews

The African American narrator awakens and heads out into a snow-dappled city, taking in Christmastime sights, sounds, and tastes. Onomatopoeia-inflected text and kinetic, zoomed-in oil paintings enliven various iterations of experiencing "the spirit of the season." We get increasingly closer to the true meaning of Christmas until the revelation--"THE SPIRIT IS YOU!"--as the girl donates a gift to a needy family. An energetic, uplifting celebration of the season. Copyright 2019 Horn Book Guide Reviews.

Horn Book Magazine Reviews

In this upbeat picture book (similar in mood and tone to the wife-husband duo's previous I Got the Rhythm), the African American narrator awakens "to the spirit of the season" ("RISE AND SHINE!") and heads out into a snow-dappled city with her mother, taking in all the Christmastime sights, sounds, and tastes. Schofield-Morrison's onomatopoeia-inflected text (as the girl goes ice-skating: "I swirled and twirled around the spirit. SWISH SWISH") and Morrison's kinetic, zoomed-in oil paintings enliven various iterations of experiencing "the spirit." As the story progresses, we get closer and closer to the true meaning of Christmas until the revelation—"THE SPIRIT IS YOU!"—as the girl donates a gift to a family in need. An energetic and uplifting celebration of the season. katrina Hedeen Copyright 2018 Horn Book Magazine Reviews.

Kirkus Reviews

Christmas spirit is expressed in joyous and reflective onomatopoeic exclamations in this new holiday staple, a follow-up to I Got the Rhythm (2014). With her first yawn in the morning, the young black protagonist, coily 'fro on full display, excitedly wakes to the spirit of the season. Snowflakes flutter across bright illustrations, encouraging readers to inhale, feel, taste, and listen to all things Christmas as embodied in loving detail in the rhythmic language. The winter delights include ice skating ("SWISH SWISH"), caroling ("FA LA LA LA LA"), and the sparkling of Christmas lights ("BLING BLING"), whetting the appetites of young readers as they count down the days until Christmas. Each page sets a different scene, but the little girl, now with two adorable afro puffs, steals each one as she bops around town. Whether she's letting the steam from roasted chestnuts curl around her face or advocating for others with Santa, she makes sure to show that the spirit of Christmas is not just the traditions enjoyed, but also the actions taken to share kindness and joy with others, because "THE SPIRIT IS YOU!" Author and illustrator capture children's insistent acknowledgment of what adults often pretend not to see, in this case homeless members of the community, and they also emphasize the strength of will that allows the young protagonist to rise mightily to the occasion. Soul-stirring and sure to put readers in a festive mood. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus 2018 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly Reviews

The ebullient girl who first appeared in Schofield-Morrison's I Got the Rhythm wakes up brimming with Christmas spirit. She and her mother venture into the snowy streets of their diverse city neighborhood. As the girl—cozily dressed in a purple parka—admires a festive department store window, "I sparkled in the spirit of the lights." The child joins a group of carolers and inhales the sweet smell of roasting nuts. She even brings cheer to a grumpy Santa: "I spread the spirit with my smile." Morrison's oil paintings capture the crackling energy of a city preparing for Christmas; the married coauthors' message about cultivating kindness, gratitude, and community the whole year through sings on the page. Ages 3–6. (Sept.)

School Library Journal Reviews

PreS-Gr 1—Wintry scenes on every page set the scene for another winning picture book from this husband-and-wife duo. As in I Got the Rhythm, Morrison's ebullient oil-on-canvas paintings depict a young African American girl in an urban setting who is overjoyed that the Christmas season has arrived. The story begins with the girl waking up to snow falling outside her bedroom window. The text and illustrations show the child using all five senses to experience a winter day during the Christmas season. "I heard the spirit in the air…" She and her mother spend the day shopping, ice skating, caroling, and visiting Santa Claus; the girl's joy in her surroundings is evident in the illustrations. The colors are rich and saturated, but not overdone. Schofield-Morrison's text is concise enough to make this a good choice for a storytime, even for preschoolers. The message, "THE SPIRIT IS YOU!" and that the holiday is as much about giving as receiving are important ones. VERDICT A first purchase for schools or communities that wish to include Christmas in their winter celebrations.—Jennifer Steib Simmons, Anderson County Library, SC