Title: My Flipping Yaya
Author: Yonce Daniels
Illustrations by: Daryl Myntia Daniels
Publisher: Xlibris
ISBN: 978-1-9845-2546-8
Pages: 24
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book, Education
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
With a message of love, confidence, and encouragement while teaching children of the wonderful possibilities of growing up, Yonce Daniels’ book titled My Flipping Yaya is beyond excellent. First and foremost I need to compliment the artistic composition of this book. Each drawing by the author’s daughter Daryl Myntia Daniels displays a unique style; one of intricacies of lines and colors, conveying form, shape and motion in a way worthy of framing many of the page-sized illustrations. Originality in setting a story-board world of visual depth and captivating images along with maternal nurturing in messaging, Yonce Daniels carries forth an environment of astonishment as she mentors her granddaughter in coordination, dexterity and confidence in order to perform a gymnastic flip.
As Zuri loves to watch her yaya (grandmother) flip, spin and land into a split, they spend hours together doing basic gymnastic exercises. Zuri’s body needs to learn how to use her inner force of balance, strength and coordination in such a way to have her flip like her yaya. Someday Zuri hopes to be a yaya herself, able to teach her own granddaughter the skills handed down from her yaya. As “yaya” is a cute, comical and unique translation of “Grandmother,” this book is all about love and the passing down to generations follow the important aspects of what makes a life so special.
Readers will come to know and be astounded by the physical dexterity of the author. At her age, well old enough to be a grandmother, Yonce still amazes people with her skills. Her life is filled with the joy of her children and grandchildren, and she has accomplished an amazing goal of publishing a book which is a jewel for any family to put on their treasure chest of their personal library, and read to their little ones. As children’s visual observations and curiosity are known to be captivated by little details, such as the matrix of lines superimposed on each of the characters in the illustrations, they will form what might be said to be a hypnotic gaze. When combined with the loving reading of the galley text, My Flipping Yaya will perform its own magical exhibition of transporting those young minds into life’s lessons of working hard and moving forward with confidence in order to achieve anything they wish.
This book is available in three formats: electronic, hard cover and soft cover. I suggest it be purchased in one of its paper versions, because it makes it easier to have children open it on their own. Children of all single-digit years will gain a head start in becoming all they can be, as they defy gravity and see the world upside down at times — just like as seen by My Flipping Yaya.
