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JUNIPER KAI

SUPER SPY

This will be a read-aloud favorite for little supersleuths, particularly those with junior agents on the way.

Code-breaking manuals? Check. Disguises? Check. Spy cameras? Check!

Harriet the Spy would approve of this sharp-eyed investigator. This young, mixed-race heroine has all the tools of the spy trade at her disposal. And while she prefers to work alone, her mom and dad have always filled in as assets. But recently, something has changed. When she observes her parents making clandestine plans and writing in code, Juniper springs into action. What are her parents up to? With her dogged curiosity and creative problem-solving, Juniper covers a lot of ground, all while clad in her rose-colored shorts and mint-green socks. During a surveillance run, she detects her Asian-presenting dad building something that looks like a jail, while her dark-haired, brown-skinned, pleasantly plump mother whispers secrets on the phone. Juniper is given plenty of alone-time to plan, collect, and analyze all the intelligence. The animation-inflected illustrations cover every angle of the house, with tension building in the cover of darkness. Within the text, the complex, spy-related words are printed in colored, boldface type for dramatic emphasis. With skillful pacing, the storyline ramps up as the clues are collected. Will Juniper complete her mission? Or is this just the beginning of “the most important mission of [her] life”?

This will be a read-aloud favorite for little supersleuths, particularly those with junior agents on the way. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-5420-4332-8

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Two Lions

Review Posted Online: June 15, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2019

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

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

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MAMA BUILT A LITTLE NEST

A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.

Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.

Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.

A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.   (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: March 18, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014

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