Laundry Day by Maurie J. Manning

On a blustery day in the bustling metropolis of 19th century New York City, a shoe-shiner boy catches a red scarf and goes off in search of its owner. His wild goose chase takes us on a lively tour of a tenement building, introducing us to the beautiful diversity of immigrant cultures coming to America at that time. As the boy climbs up the balconies, he meets a Chinese launderer, a Ukrainian mother, an Italian musician, some Polish sisters, a Yiddish-speaking Rabbi, and a Jamaican seamstress, as well as a few others. The pictures create a cinematic feel, with many viewpoints, capturing the movement and adventure of the boy’s journey. Laundry Day tells a simple story in a delightful way, with many captivating details in the illustrations.

Reviewed by Grace

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