by Patricia Reilly Giff & illustrated by Alasdair Bright ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 10, 2010
This debut title in Giff’s Zigzag Kids series introduces a large cast of characters who gather at the Afternoon Center of Zelda A. Zigzag School. Written with quick sentences, short paragraphs and brief injections of dialogue, the story moves rapidly and is enhanced by Bright’s periodic illustrations. (His portraits of the main players at the beginning of the book also provide a helpful reference.) Anxious new kid Mitchell’s first days at the elementary school are the focus of this first volume. Even though he wears the I’m Number One T-shirt that Nana gave him, he struggles to make friends and show big sister Angel he can take care of himself. As the week progresses, Mitchell gets caught up in antics at the center and worries if he will ever fit in or be good at anything. But Prize Day brings a medal for writing, the admiration of his sister and the discovery of new friend Habib. New chapter-book readers will easily relate to the various troubles and anticipations of this diverse crew. Sequel Big Whopper publishes simultaneously (ISBN: 978-0-385-74688-5; PLB: 978-0-385-90926-6; paper: 978-0-553-49469-3). (Fiction. 6-9)
Pub Date: Aug. 10, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-385-74687-8
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Wendy Lamb/Random
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2010
Share your opinion of this book
More In The Series
by Patricia Reilly Giff & illustrated by Alasdair Bright
by Patricia Reilly Giff & illustrated by Alasdair Bright
by Patricia Reilly Giff & illustrated by Alasdair Bright
More by Patricia Reilly Giff
BOOK REVIEW
by Patricia Reilly Giff ; illustrated by Abby Carter
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
by J. Dillard ; illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 3, 2021
A strong second outing for Dillard and J.D.
Breakout kid barber J.D. embraces a summer of opportunity.
Readers met J.D. Jones just as he took his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi, by storm, winning himself community acclaim and a chair at the revered Hart and Sons barbershop in series opener J.D. and the Great Barber Battle(2021). What’s next for the haircut prodigy? School’s just getting out, and there’s so much life happening outside—if only one can escape home learning with the grandparents. J.D.’s sister, Vanessa, brings along multitalented mutual friend Jessyka to share an ambitious challenge: “Let’s start a YouTube channel!” Can they get millions of views and wow the whole world? They are already amazing at haircuts and hairstyles—all they need is to learn how to make a great YouTube video. The story models strategies for scripting short videos reflecting the templates of viral YouTube hair tutorials, inviting readers to not only see the journey of the characters, but maybe also practice these skills at home. This book is bound to educate all about some of the most storied and cherished traditions within the Black community. Bringing in Vanessa is a great touch to extend the series across gender, and hopefully she’ll get a chance to lead her own adventures. This book blends skill-building, entrepreneurship, and strong family values to give young Black children visions of what’s possible when they follow their passions and embrace their community.
A strong second outing for Dillard and J.D. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Aug. 3, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-11155-0
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Kokila
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
Share your opinion of this book
More In The Series
by J. Dillard ; illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts
by J. Dillard ; illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts
More by J. Dillard
BOOK REVIEW
by J. Dillard ; illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts
BOOK REVIEW
by J. Dillard ; illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts
by Suzy Kline ; illustrated by Amy Wummer ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 27, 2018
A fitting farewell, still funny, acute, and positive in its view of human nature even in its 37th episode.
A long-running series reaches its closing chapters.
Having, as Kline notes in her warm valedictory acknowledgements, taken 30 years to get through second and third grade, Harry Spooger is overdue to move on—but not just into fourth grade, it turns out, as his family is moving to another town as soon as the school year ends. The news leaves his best friend, narrator “Dougo,” devastated…particularly as Harry doesn’t seem all that fussed about it. With series fans in mind, the author takes Harry through a sort of last-day-of-school farewell tour. From his desk he pulls a burned hot dog and other items that featured in past episodes, says goodbye to Song Lee and other classmates, and even (for the first time ever) leads Doug and readers into his house and memento-strewn room for further reminiscing. Of course, Harry isn’t as blasé about the move as he pretends, and eyes aren’t exactly dry when he departs. But hardly is he out of sight before Doug is meeting Mohammad, a new neighbor from Syria who (along with further diversifying a cast that began as mostly white but has become increasingly multiethnic over the years) will also be starting fourth grade at summer’s end, and planning a written account of his “horrible” buddy’s exploits. Finished illustrations not seen.
A fitting farewell, still funny, acute, and positive in its view of human nature even in its 37th episode. (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: Nov. 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-451-47963-1
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Sept. 16, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2018
Share your opinion of this book
More by Suzy Kline
BOOK REVIEW
by Suzy Kline & illustrated by Sami Sweeten
BOOK REVIEW
by Suzy Kline & illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
BOOK REVIEW
by Suzy Kline & illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.