Though joyful, this celebration of the American family is regrettably nostalgic.
Poet Laureate of West Virginia Harshman’s anthem to extended families is a mellow catalog of togetherness.
As the whole family converges on the old homestead in the country, a whirlwind of activity ensues: Great-Grandpa tells stories around the campfire, children frolic at the swimming hole, and everyone piles into the rowboat. The one-word imperatives that conclude each disappointingly nonlyrical, four-line stanza can be stealthily employed to encourage audience participation—count; sing; clap. "When it is time for breakfast / and the grown-ups are ready, / Aunt Jayne says / WASH." The quietly subdued narration is offset by Palacios’ dynamic pen-and-ink–and-digital illustrations. Palacios’ attention to detail draws readers’ eyes to everyone from the cherubic baby to the shaggy dog. Frogs are popeyed, and birds are comically interested in the organized chaos of the daily outings. There’s a shimmering quality to these late-summer images, from the russet-haired kids in sleeping bags on the floor to the panicked scramble through meadow grass from angry bees. However, the too-familiar European-American, middle-class family featured in the story lacks diversity of any kind. A single parent, a disabled child, or a multiracial or same-sex couple would have added authenticity to the portrayal of today’s American family and would have positively contributed to the national discourse on inclusiveness.
Though joyful, this celebration of the American family is regrettably nostalgic. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 8, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5388-2
Page Count: 34
Publisher: Eerdmans
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2015
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
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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