Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss. ( )

Naomi loves everything about 11th Street, where she lived. But gradually, it changed. A big tree is cut down, then her best friend Ada moves away, and neighborhood stores give way to gentrification. Her shopkeeper friend, Mr. Ray, helps her paint a mural to show what she loved most about the neighborhood. Then the wall with her mural was broken up too, although Naomi was able to salvage a little piece of it:

“And when her family moved, that piece stayed with her, from 11th Street . . . all the way to 111th Street. It wasn’t pretty. But Naomi knew, things change. It’s not easy. But when we find places to call home and people to love . . .a new world will grow.”

Katie Yamasaki’s illustrations and colorful and show a diverse group who make up Naomi’s world.

Evaluation: This book is perfect for kids who are experiencing changes in their lives, and are fearful of losing all that is familiar and that they love. This story shows that memories accompany people everywhere, and you don’t lose them no matter where you go. Moreover, before you know it, there are new people and places in your life, and new memories to make. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. The story is about a girl who looks out her window and sees her street, her friends, and the life she knows. Over time the street changes. First, her favorite tree is chopped down and she mourns the loss of the tree. Her neighbor brings over paints and together they paint a tree on a wall to symbolize what has changed. Next her friend moves away, and her friend is painted on the wall. The mural on the wall chronicles the changes and the loss as gentrification moves through her street. Through the changes, the girl learns about community and love. ( )

Talks with Roger (Horn Book, October 1, 2020)
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Saw Katie Yamasaki at the Carle Museum November 2023. She talked about how neighborhoods change, about making murals with groups of teenagers, about self-expression, and she read Everything Naomi Loved.

See also: Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina and Sonia Sanchez ( )