Taken as a whole, the book affectionately captures the nostalgic air of vacations past, seashells gathered and summer...
The annual summer vacation reveals familiar patterns and the joy of continuity and tradition.
A girl sets off for her annual summer trip with her family. They travel a familiar route, and she sees the same old sights. However, rather than sounding bored or sullen, the narrator embraces the return to roads less traveled though highly recognizable. Once at the beach, the girl relates the happenings, small and large, of the week; the most important thing is that “[n]othing changes. That’s why I like it.” The charm of Larsen’s book is the lack of gimmickry. Simple type against a plain, white background is paired with beautifully straightforward artwork. In his picture-book debut, Stewart captures the sparseness of Larsen’s words and creates images both childlike and sophisticated. His color choices are magnificent as he depicts a bonfire with bright orange flames licking against a black backdrop or in the way he interprets daylight as the narrator sits on her front porch or stands on an early-morning beach. Larsen’s storytelling feels honest, and the book will work just as well for a young person taking those first steps toward independent reading as it will for shared reading with an adult.
Taken as a whole, the book affectionately captures the nostalgic air of vacations past, seashells gathered and summer friends left behind—a great book for the car ride. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 15, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-926973-99-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 9, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2015
PERSPECTIVES
A disappointing follow-up.
Inventor Izzy Gizmo is back in this sequel to her eponymous debut (2017).
While busily inventing one day, Izzy receives an invitation from the Genius Guild to their annual convention. Though Izzy’s “inventions…don’t always work,” Grandpa (apparently her sole caregiver) encourages her to go. The next day they undertake a long journey “over fields, hills, and waves” and “mile after mile” to isolated Technoff Isle. There, Izzy finds she must compete against four other kids to create the most impressive machine. The colorful, detail-rich illustrations chronicle how poor Izzy is thwarted at every turn by Abi von Lavish, a Veruca Salt–esque character who takes all the supplies for herself. But when Abi abandons her project, Izzy salvages the pieces and decides to take Grandpa’s advice to create a machine that “can really be put to good use.” A frustrated Izzy’s impatience with a friend almost foils her chance at the prize, but all’s well that ends well. There’s much to like: Brown-skinned inventor girl Izzy is an appealing character, it’s great to see a nurturing brown-skinned male caregiver, the idea of an “Invention Convention” is fun, and a sustainable-energy invention is laudable. However, these elements don’t make up for rhymes that often feel forced and a lackluster story.
A disappointing follow-up. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68263-164-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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