I Got Community

by Melrose Cooper, Dale Gottlieb (Illustrator)

A companion book to I Got a Family shows, in pictures and simple, rhyming text, the ways in which members of the child narrator's community show their love, mutual support, and mutual caring.

Genres: Picture Books, Relationships, Friendship, Family, Childrens

Library Binding

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

The pseudonym of Virginia L. Kroll to accomodate her tremendous output as an author.

Reviews

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

4ish stars.

It’s too bad that so many people still think that African American Vernacular English is just English with bad grammar. It’s 2023, peeps! This book is a fun, culturally diverse poem that includes all the different members that make up a community in addition to your standard community helpers: neighbors, friends, babysitters, church members. Good rhyming, but eye-wateringly bright.

Illustrations: 3
Story: 4.5

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this simple early book that could be a conversation starter about the community we are each in, the benefits and support and how we can contribute. The art is reminiscent of Todd Parr. The language is reminiscent of Ruth Brown The Important Book . An example is "I got a classmate, helps me smart:" and goes on to list ways the classmate and the narrator help and support each other. The language has "voice"!

[Angie Munoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allows students to learn about respect and community. It shows people with different ethnicity within a community.

[Alison · Rating 1 out of 5]

We get this book from the library every time we do our Community/Family theme. I strongly dislike this book. It doesn't really have to do with the content though. The book shows the child's community surroundings. I do not like the grammar used.

[Naomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Who is important in your neighborhood? This "story" (rhyme) felt off and forced. Partnered with mediocre illustrations, this story just had nothing special to it.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for a primary school lesson on community. Features members of the community and multiple ethnicities. Told in sing songy rhyming verses. The book ends comparing community to family.

[Alexandria Hiam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for a primary school lesson on community. Features members of the community and multiple ethnicities. Told in sing songy rhyming verses. The book ends comparing community to family.