A toot-ally fun, funny, and funky family read.
Two sisters turn a game of hide-and-seek into an explosively good time.
Baby hides in the attic while Big Sis looks for her, but when Baby struggles to hold in the sounds—and smells—of a gassy tummy, both little girls end up finding more fun in letting it all out. Coiled green clouds float around as the sisters start tootin’ up a storm. “Usually whoever smelt it, dealt it,” the narrator reminds readers. “But in this case? Baby got the first sniff, but it was Big Sis who laid the gas down!” Playful illustrations show Baby’s small, accidental “PFT” triggering an all-out war: “PpPpPffffttt!!!” “Bleggrt?!” “CLERB!!” The music of flatulence fills the room. The bright green gas spreads everywhere, making it hard for the sisters to see, so they barely notice when Momma enters the battlefield and gets a big whiff of what they’ve been up to today. Uh-oh. Is the odor too much for Momma? Turns out Baby and Big Sis have nothing to worry about. Momma shows them she’s still got a bit of gas left in her tank and joins her daughters in the fart-y. With gleeful abandon, McDaniel infuses her energetic text with onomatopoeia, matched beat for beat by de Castro’s frenzied artwork. Characters present Black.
A toot-ally fun, funny, and funky family read. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 23, 2024
ISBN: 9781250881298
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
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
Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind.
When Mom and Dad bring baby Rasheed home for the first time, it’s love at first sight for big brother Anthony.
As the boys grow, Anthony teaches his little sibling how to build a tower with blocks (and how to knock it down with a loud “WHOP!!!”), how to ride a bike, and even how to fly (through a well-timed leap from the swings). When thunder and lightning wake them both one night, Anthony assuages Rasheed’s fears with the book’s titular refrain: “I got you.” But one day Anthony goes for a bike ride with his friends, leaving Rasheed alone and hurt. That night, Anthony explains that while he may spend time with his peers, his bond with Rasheed is unbreakable. And as the book comes to a close, with Mom and Dad introducing the boys to their new little sibling, Anthony leaves Rasheed with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to be a supportive big brother himself. Narrated by Rasheed, Barnes’ text is elegant in its simplicity, loving yet never saccharine, and always emotionally honest. Using varied perspectives, Knight-Justice’s richly hued, collagelike digital illustrations combine a patchwork of textures and patterns, immersing readers in this affectionate Black family’s world. Greens and blues dominate the pages, bringing to life an idyllic suburban setting.
Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9780593111451
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
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