by Elizabeth Howard ; illustrated by Diane Wege ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 9, 2015
A heartfelt but lukewarm attempt at re-creating a slice of island life.
An inquisitive and adventurous young girl named Flossie spends a day with the beloved Bonefish Joe to see why so many people travel to Harbour Island from all over just to go fishing with him.
Harbour Island is a small settlement in the Bahamas known for bonefishing: a catch-and-release sport with the silvery bonefish as its object. Screwing up her courage, Flossie approaches Bonefish Joe to ask him to take her fishing. Laughing, he tells Flossie that she needs her mother’s permission. Though she’s initially told no, Flossie is happily surprised when her mother later changes her mind in a contrived and inexplicable turnabout. Flossie eagerly goes on this adventure and finally understands why an outing with Bonefish Joe is such a sought-after experience: “Bonefish Joe took you by the hand and brought you to a peaceful and quiet place.” Although the author’s affection for Bonefish Joe, a real Bahamian fisherman, and for Harbour Island is clear, the story never gets under Flossie’s skin. Her ignorance of the economic realities of fishing tourism and of Bonefish Joe’s particular expertise make her feel like an outsider in her own community, an unsettling feeling that perhaps contributes to the narrative’s feeling of disconnectedness. Though filled with light, the illustrations do but a lackluster job of capturing the sparkling sights described by the text and life on Harbour Island in general.
A heartfelt but lukewarm attempt at re-creating a slice of island life. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Nov. 9, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-56792-534-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Godine
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2015
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by Lindsay Bonilla ; illustrated by Mark Hoffmann ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 14, 2023
Amusing but a little off tempo.
It’s important to hit all the right notes.
A tan-skinned musical composer with puffy black hair is busy at work on his next musical masterpiece when Half Note, a music symbol denoting two beats, feels unappreciated. Half Note is jealous of the more commonly used Quarter Note (one beat) and Eighth Note. Although the other musical symbols attempt to calm and comfort Half Note, she decides to run away. The next day, Composer needs Half Note and panics when he realizes that she’s gone. The other notes and musical symbols try to find her, but it’s only when they try to play her favorite song, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” without her—with terrible results—that she comes running back. The story’s humor—which is largely based on “dad joke” puns—is completely dependent on readers’ musical knowledge. The artwork, a mix of acrylic and colored pencil, attempts to add some allegrezza to the piece, and while it’s not unsuccessful, it’s facing an uphill battle. Music teachers and musically minded caregivers may find some value in this story, but it will likely be too specialized for general readers. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Amusing but a little off tempo. (glossary) (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: March 14, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-64567-631-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2023
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by Lisa Bowes ; illustrated by James Hearne ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 3, 2019
It’s a slam dunk
Lucy discovers that the way to learn to play basketball is with friends on a neighborhood court.
Lucy loves playing in the park, and one day she and her friends join their friend Ava and her cousin in their new favorite sport: basketball. Pro player Jermaine, aka “Coach J,” teaches all the basics—footwork, quick passes, dribbling, and a variety of shots. But he also encourages the players to keep trying when they miss, stresses the value of teamwork, and focuses on fun as they learn and later play a practice game. At the end of the workout, Coach J invites the young players to watch him and his team play. Written in loose rhyming couplets, the text has many near rhymes and inconsistent meter. While the storyline is predictable, the book is a good introduction to basketball terms, and young basketball players and fans will appreciate reading about themselves. Vivid silhouetted figures against a white background portray male and female players of several races; Lucy herself is white while Ava and Coach J are black. One young player competes from a wheelchair. A half page of backmatter explains the history of basketball, the NBA and its players, and wheelchair basketball, and one entry also explains the three-on-three basketball that the children play. The book publishes in a simultaneous French edition translated by Rachel Martinez.
It’s a slam dunk . (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4598-1697-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2019
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