James Burd Brewster is the author of children’s picture books that are perfect for boys. They are all full of detailed illustrations with lots of colors. A lot of them are interactive and give children the chance to feel included in the stories. The one thing they each have in common is each story teaches an important lesson. Steve and Stevie is the newest picture book series and they are the main characters of each book. They have a close father-son relationship and are a part of a loving family who does many activities together. I love these books because of the stories and the representation of a healthy black family. Specifically, a healthy black father-son relationship. It’s important for boys to have a good relationship with their fathers and to learn from them.
In Steve and Stevie The Tire Swing, the importance of teamwork and being patient with yourself are exemplified. Stevie is a little boy who was named after his father and narrates this story. He has one older brother, Nigel, and one older sister, Nadya. The story starts out with Steve and Stevie standing outside when the dad points out the big oak tree in their yard with a branch sticking out. He suggests putting a tire swing on the branch of it. Steve, Stevie, and Nigel all decide to work together and make their own tire swing.
First, they used a tire that Nigel found around the neighborhood and Steve bought rope and orange string. They struggled to throw the rope over the branch because of how heavy it was. Steve told the boys to try and throw the wrench they had over the branch and they were able to throw it high. He then tied the orange string to the bottom of the wrench so it would be able to go over the branch. Then, they would use the string to pull the rope up and over the branch. Nigel tried a few times to throw the wrench over but failed to do so and gave it to his dad to try.
Steve told him that he was close and to try once more and he was able to the next time he tried. Steve untied the string from the wrench and tied it to the end of the rope instead. Stevie was pulling on the string so the rope could be lifted up and Steve was encouraging him to keep on pulling. When it started to hurt Stevie’s hands and he could no longer keep pulling, Nigel came to his rescue and took control. Their Mom treated them with cookies afterward and the tire swing worked perfectly when they were finished.
Lastly, these books can teach a lot to boys. Without the help of one another, they would not have been able to build the tire swing. Steve kept his sons encouraged and they all supported one another. None of them gave up on themselves or each other. Their mom, in the end, only made them feel better by treating them with cookies and rewarding them for their hard work.