A boisterous blow off sure to tucker listeners out before they’re tucked in.
A loving family masquerading as pro wrestlers rings in the weekend with a nocturnal cuddle-clash.
If love is a battlefield, bedtime surely qualifies as siege warfare—or at least a good scrap. Fox reimagines this household ritual through a new angle, with the whole family clad in homemade wrestling attire duking it out in a scarf-roped, blanket-matted squared circle in the living room. At the opening bell, Peanut Brother and sis Jellyfish no-sell Dangerous Daddoo’s attempt to impose curfew. Player’s vivacious palette and dynamic brush strokes dominate each page, and the larger-than-life characters’ minimalist facial features ensure maximum expressiveness. The in-ring action is fast-paced, with Fox’s punchy text sprawling over spreads and emphatically discouraging silent reading. Be warned: This shout-aloud story demands the best from any caregiver’s inner MC, and the bright, pun-laden, affection-filled narrative is sure to inspire emulation. Though Daddoo is initially caught off guard by a “WHEM BAM JAM SLAM-WICH,” he quickly turns the match into a literal slobberknocker by unleashing his patented “CODFISH KISSES.” Things are looking desperate for the Tag Team Twins until Mama-Rama gets home and turns on Daddoo, catching him in a classic “PARENT TRAP.” In the end, it’s Big Bald Baby who brings down the house with a “DIAPER OF DOOM,” and, after singing, brushing, flushing, and polishing off a book, the kids finally go down for the count. All family members have dark, curly hair and light-brown skin.
A boisterous blow off sure to tucker listeners out before they’re tucked in. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Feb. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-250-21240-5
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A fresh, melodic take on family harmony.
Rock legends, husband-and-wife team, and proud grandparents Benatar and Giraldo present an upbeat ode to families.
A youngster with long blond hair confides conspiratorially, “This might come as a bit of a shock, // but my grandma and grandpa…ROCK!” The silver-haired duo—who resemble the co-authors—jam out in a practice space; Grandpa strums an electric guitar, while Grandma belts out a tune, microphone in hand. (All three are pale-skinned.) Jagged star strokes burst from the amps, reverberating across the page. As the young narrator sings the praises of these hip, artistically minded grandparents, the illustrations depict many varied, diverse families making music. One grandparent strums a ukulele, another prefers the drums, and an especially eclectic granny croons everything from lullabies to Led Zeppelin while cooking. There’s no wrong way to share joy with grandparents. Benatar and Giraldo acknowledge that you don’t have to be a musician to rock (“Anyone can rock! / It’s a state of mind, / like feeling happy or being kind”) as they speak to other passions and occupations (“They can be a plumber, a chef, a pilot, a teacher”). One spread showcases other names for grandparents, both colloquial and cultural, presented without disrupting the text’s rhythm. As expected, this pair lays down a steady beat with a smooth flow. Everett’s energetic art, with musical swooshes and swirls, buoys the text.
A fresh, melodic take on family harmony. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2025
ISBN: 9781728298023
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
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
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