As contemplative and lovely as a walk in the snow.
On a quiet winter walk, two fox sisters look for a snow dragon and find magic in the natural world around them.
Miriam and Celeste meander through the glittering, silvery wonder of a snowy day. Miriam, the eldest and a self-proclaimed dragon expert, points out signs that a snow dragon is hiding in their garden. That low, rumbling noise is its roar; a snowbank is its camouflage; and the swirling pattern of frost on a greenhouse window is, in fact, frostfire. Miriam has an answer to all of Celeste’s questions: Why doesn’t the dragon leave tracks? Where does it go in the summer? Miriam also notes that dragons are sneaky and greedy and that they would love to eat Celeste. Bravely, Celeste marches off alone to confront the dragon. When she finds it, all is not quite as she expected. She returns to her sister, but now Celeste is the one armed with knowledge, and it’s Miriam’s turn to learn. The sibling relationship is sweetly authentic. Their dynamic has enough mild friction to ring true, with Miriam’s slightly know-it-all air and Celeste’s tendency to tag along and ask questions, but the sisters’ strong bond and mutual trust never waver. Whimsical illustrations feature dreamy colors and soft-focus backgrounds washed out with reflected winter light. This tale is magical anytime, but it’s a top choice when seeking a winter story that doesn’t center on a holiday.
As contemplative and lovely as a walk in the snow. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780735266988
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 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
An immersive, charming read and convincing proof again that even small bodies can house stout hearts.
Can knightly deeds bring together a feathered odd couple who are on opposite daily schedules?
Having won over a dragon (and millions of fans) in the Caldecott Honor–winning Knight Owl (2022), the fierce yet impossibly cute nocturnal, armor-clad owlet faces a new challenge—sleep deprivation—in the wake of taking on Early Bird, a trainee who rises with the sun and chatters interminably: “I made pancakes! Do you like pancakes? I love pancakes! Where’s the syrup?” It’s enough to test the patience of even the knightliest of owls, and eventually Knight Owl explodes in anger. But although Early Bird is even smaller than her mentor, she turns out to be just as determined to achieve knighthood. After he tells her to leave, she acquits herself so nobly in a climactic encounter with a pack of wolves that she earns a place at the castle. Denise proves a dab hand at depicting genuinely slinky, scary wolves as well as slipping cheerfully anachronistic newspapers and other sight gags into his realistically wrought medieval settings to underscore the tale’s tongue-in-cheek tone. Better yet, a final view of the doughty duo sitting down together to a lavish pancake breakfast/dinner at dusk ends the episode in a sweet rush of syrup and bonhomie.
An immersive, charming read and convincing proof again that even small bodies can house stout hearts. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9780316564526
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2025
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