From Publishers Weekly
Melody loves the annual family excursion to Aunt Connie's house: everyone gets to go swimming, share a fabulous dinner and see an exhibition of Aunt Connie's most recent art. This year there are surprises as well: a newly adopted cousin her own age ("I fell in love with him the first time I saw him") and a series of paintings of famous African American women. From their frames on the wall, the pictured women tell of their devotion to civil rights (Rosa Parks and Fannie Lou Hamer), education (Mary McLeod Bethune), literature (Zora Neale Hurston) and other causes and professions. Ringgold's ( Tar Beach ) distinctive primitive style, with its thick strokes and resilient, varied colors, seems especially suited to portraying these women of exceptional substance and strength. The heart of the book--the pages in which the women tell their stories--is at once a magical and a ringing affirmation of their achievements. But the surrounding pages are less impressive. Neither the members of Melody's extended family nor the dinner itself ever seem real, much less "extra special," and the book concludes on an odd, gratuitously sentimental note as the two children discuss their future as a married couple years hence. Ages 5-9. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4-A highly imaginative and original picture book filled with stunning artwork. Unfortunately, the blending of fact and fantasy just does not work here. Melody meets her newly adopted cousin, Lonnie, at her Aunt Connie's house one summer. While playing, the youngsters discover 12 paintings in the attic, each of which depicts a famous African-American woman. What is unusual about the portraits is that they can speak. Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, Mary McLeod Bethune, Zora Neale Hurston, and the others take turns telling their stories to the two astonished children. At this point, the story gets bogged down by too many pages of biographical information. Plot elements of a family dinner, Lonnie's adoption, and his unusual features could themselves serve as rich story lines for separate books. Beautifully illustrated in the artist's trademark folk style, the book has a profusion of bright and vibrant colors of bold reds, yellows, and blues and muted purples, mauves, and beiges. The human figures are large and blocklike, with rich brown skin color. In the final analysis, Ringgold has tried to do too much. Nonetheless, despite these failings, this offering provides information, has charm, and is visually powerful. Carol Jones Collins, Montclair Kimberley Academy, NJCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Kirkus Reviews
A history lesson introducing 12 notable African-American women (Rosa Parks, Mary McLeod Bethune, Zora Neale Hurston, et al.) in the guise of a story about a special family dinner: 12 portraits in the hostess's attic come magically to life and speak to the nine- year-old narrator. The result is not particularly effective as fiction, since the slender narrative is overwhelmed by messages about family traditions, self-esteem, and the strength of African- American women, but it's still interesting and useful. Ringgold's art (Tar Beach, 1991 Caldecott Honor) is outstanding, marked by intense color and strong, boldly outlined shapes. The beautiful painted ``story quilt,'' basis for the book, is reproduced at the end with an explanatory note about its transformation into this story. (Picture book. 6-9) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Card catalog description
Dinner at Aunt Connie's is even more special than usual when Melody meets not only her new adopted cousin but twelve inspiring African-American women, who step out of their portraits and join the family for dinner.

ANNOTATION

Dinner at Aunt Connie's is even more special than usual when Melody meets not only her new adopted cousin but twelve inspiring African-American women, who step out of their portraits and join the family for dinner.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Melody loves the annual family excursion to Aunt Connie's house--everyone gets to go swimming, share a fabulous dinner and see an exhibition of Aunt Connie's most recent art. From their frames on the wall, famous African American women such as Rosa Parks, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Zora Neale Hurston tell their stories of their devotion to causes from civil rights to education.***** Full color.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Melody loves the annual family excursion to Aunt Connie's house: everyone gets to go swimming, share a fabulous dinner and see an exhibition of Aunt Connie's most recent art. This year there are surprises as well: a newly adopted cousin her own age (``I fell in love with him the first time I saw him'') and a series of paintings of famous African American women. From their frames on the wall, the pictured women tell of their devotion to civil rights (Rosa Parks and Fannie Lou Hamer), education (Mary McLeod Bethune), literature (Zora Neale Hurston) and other causes and professions. Ringgold's ( Tar Beach ) distinctive primitive style, with its thick strokes and resilient, varied colors, seems especially suited to portraying these women of exceptional substance and strength. The heart of the book--the pages in which the women tell their stories--is at once a magical and a ringing affirmation of their achievements. But the surrounding pages are less impressive. Neither the members of Melody's extended family nor the dinner itself ever seem real, much less ``extra special,'' and the book concludes on an odd, gratuitously sentimental note as the two children discuss their future as a married couple years hence. Ages 5-9. (Oct.)

Children's Literature - Susie Wilde

Never was there as interesting a family gathering as that described in Dinner at Aunt Connie's House. Ringgold gives us another sparkling family adventure and a new format for appreciating the lives of African-American women. Melody meets her newly adopted cousin Lonnie at a family gathering. They like each other instantly and fall to playing. A hide-and-seek game leads them to discover speaking portraits created by their Aunt Connie. From the walls of Aunt Connie's attic gallery, twelve African-American women speak with inspiration as strong as Ringgold's art.

Children's Literature - Deborah Zink Roffino

How magical and thrilling to arrive at Aunt Connnie's house to find a new cousin to play with and an attic full of resplendent paintings. Ah, but there's more; the paintings talk, recounting their true and diverse stories. A full dozen African-American women come alive to explain their place in history. Caldecott winner Faith Ringgold has created this wondrous book for children based on her famous painted story quilt: The Dinner Quilt. The pages resonate with rich colors and inspirational testimony. Remarkable choice for a lively introduction to the vast contributions of African American women in history.

School Library Journal