WHAT IS PUNK?

Name: WHAT IS PUNK?
Author: Eric Morse
ISBN: 978-1-61775-392-3

by Eric Morse ; illustrated by Anny Yi ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 6, 2015

The target audience may be a bit perplexed, but if invested adults love the topic, a shared reading experience can’t be beat.

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A punk primer for the youngest set.

There is no doubt that kids can make a deafening roar. But do they care about the energy and hard-edged spirit of punk music? Morse, in attempt to capture that unique history, tells the story of punk within the confines of rhyming couplets. The rhymes give the text an appreciated momentum, but the cramped (and sometimes-stilted) cadence seems an odd choice for such an aggressive movement. Morse says himself of punk beginnings: "With their eyes open wide / they shouted in fear, / 'What new sound is this?' / and covered their ears.” Regardless, Morse does include an impressive list of bands: the Ramones, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, and across the pond to the Clash, and, yes, even the Sex Pistols (the ladies of punk are represented as well—we’ll disregard the stereotypical pink backdrop). Yi’s incredibly detailed clay figures are a kinetic and inspired art choice. Their crazy creativity matches the expressive spirit of punk. Morse doesn’t necessarily answer the title question, instead offering a simple string of bands, but as he points out, the best way to learn about punk is just to listen.

The target audience may be a bit perplexed, but if invested adults love the topic, a shared reading experience can’t be beat. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2015

ISBN: 978-1-61775-392-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Akashic

Review Posted Online: July 14, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2015

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
WHAT IS HIP-HOP?
by Eric Morse & Nelson George ; illustrated by Anny Yi

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE'S A BEACH IN MY BEDROOM
by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson

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LITTLE MELBA AND HER BIG TROMBONE

by Katheryn Russell-Brown ; illustrated by Frank Morrison ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2014

Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.” (Picture book. 4-8)

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Bewitched by the rhythms of jazz all around her in Depression-era Kansas City, little Melba Doretta Liston longs to make music in this fictional account of a little-known jazz great.

Picking up the trombone at 7, the little girl teaches herself to play with the support of her Grandpa John and Momma Lucille, performing on the radio at 8 and touring as a pro at just 17. Both text and illustrations make it clear that it’s not all easy for Melba; “The Best Service for WHITES ONLY” reads a sign in a hotel window as the narrative describes a bigotry-plagued tour in the South with Billie Holiday. But joy carries the day, and the story ends on a high note, with Melba “dazzling audiences and making headlines” around the world. Russell-Brown’s debut text has an innate musicality, mixing judicious use of onomatopoeia with often sonorous prose. Morrison’s sinuous, exaggerated lines are the perfect match for Melba’s story; she puts her entire body into her playing, the exaggerated arch of her back and thrust of her shoulders mirroring the curves of her instrument. In one thrilling spread, the evening gown–clad instrumentalist stands over the male musicians, her slide crossing the gutter while the back bow disappears off the page to the left. An impressive discography complements a two-page afterword and a thorough bibliography.

Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.” (Picture book. 4-8)