Moments sharing this lovely book with children will be time very well spent.
Hold on to precious moments.
This mindfulness stuff can seem breathless and heady. Youngsters may not get the concept, at least not right away. They have to feel it, live it, and certainly be encouraged in the undertaking by their special grown-ups. Player focuses on ways to live in the moment and relish the here and now. “It’s a SONG and how YOU hear it. It’s a SUNNY DAY and how YOU feel it.” The author/illustrator turns philosophical at times: “A MOMENT is made when everything that came BEFORE meets what is happening NOW.” The cheery digital illustrations effectively express these big ideas and will help readers grasp them, relying on saturated colors and dramatic use of perspective to convey young people experiencing “crowded moments,” “peaceful moments,” and “moments when YOU feel SMALL.” Much of the simple, understated text is set in capital letters, emphasizing that these concepts deal in big ideas and weighty sentiments. Adults reading this volume aloud should encourage children to discuss their own special moments and help them understand that all moments are significant—and so are young people themselves. Characters are diverse in terms of race and ability.
Moments sharing this lovely book with children will be time very well spent. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780593695937
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Rocky Pond Books/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children.
Interior decorator and TV personality Gaines invites readers to open their eyes and exercise their imaginations.
There’s a world to be explored out there—and only children can really take part. What does “looking for wonder” entail? Slowing down and looking up, around, and everywhere. At the outset, a group of eager, racially diverse young friends—including one who uses a wheelchair—are fully prepared for a grand adventure. They offer tips about how and where to look: Why, there’s a “grand parade” of marching ants! And, these kids add, perspective is key. A rainy day might signal gloom to some, but to those filled with wonder, showers bring “magic puddles for play”; a forest is “an enchanted world,” the ocean conceals “a spectacular city,” and the night sky boasts “extraordinary sights.” The takeaway: “Wonder is never in short supply.” It’s a robust, empowering message, as is the exhortation to “keep your mind open, and let curiosity guide the way.” Youngsters are also advised to share their discoveries. The upbeat narrative is delivered in clunky verse, but the colorful cartoonish illustrations brimming with activity and good cheer (including some adorable anthropomorphized animals in the backgrounds) make up for the textual lapses and should motivate readers to embark on their own “wonder explorations.”
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9781400247417
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tommy Nelson
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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