A reassuring daydream of a book that will foster a sense of life’s possibilities in children.
“With every step you take, adventure skips along beside you.”
An adventurous young Black boy who lives in an underwater kingdom waves goodbye to his mother (also Black) as he sets out for a day of outdoor fun and exploration. While he is away, the second-person narrator, who is an extension of the boy’s mother, muses about all of the things that the boy—her “Little Wonder”—will see, do, and experience on his literal and metaphorical journeys through the world. He will make surprising discoveries, meet new friends, “find hidden pathways that lead to wonderful treasures,” and discover that “the world is boundless.” Confirming the mother’s vision, the illustrations show the boy following a treasure map that leads him to a dazzling banquet hall; befriending sea creatures and a friendly monster; and even visiting the terrestrial world. There are challenges and moments of fear, but the boy can be assured of what the mother-narrator promises: “I'm always with you,” and “I will forever be your biggest fan.” A dreamlike quality surrounds this gentle fantasy whose narrative thrust recalls Seuss’ All the Places You’ll Go (1990). Narrated in a tone reminiscent of greeting-card verse (of the better variety), the story brims with positivity, encourages children’s independence, and celebrates the bond between caregiver and child. The warm, digitally rendered illustrations show imaginative undersea landscapes that will draw young readers in.
A reassuring daydream of a book that will foster a sense of life’s possibilities in children. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-79720-812-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2022
A wandering effort, happy but pointless.
The perfect book for kids who love dragons and mild tacos.
Rubin’s story starts with an incantatory edge: “Hey, kid! Did you know that dragons love tacos? They love beef tacos and chicken tacos. They love really big gigantic tacos and tiny little baby tacos as well.” The playing field is set: dragons, tacos. As a pairing, they are fairly silly, and when the kicker comes in—that dragons hate spicy salsa, which ignites their inner fireworks—the silliness is sillier still. Second nature, after all, is for dragons to blow flames out their noses. So when the kid throws a taco party for the dragons, it seems a weak device that the clearly labeled “totally mild” salsa comes with spicy jalapenos in the fine print, prompting the dragons to burn down the house, resulting in a barn-raising at which more tacos are served. Harmless, but if there is a parable hidden in the dragon-taco tale, it is hidden in the unlit deep, and as a measure of lunacy, bridled or unbridled, it doesn’t make the leap into the outer reaches of imagination. Salmieri’s artwork is fitting, with a crabbed, ethereal line work reminiscent of Peter Sís, but the story does not offer it enough range.
A wandering effort, happy but pointless. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: June 14, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3680-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: March 27, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.
Another creature is on the loose.
The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781728274300
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
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