A compassionate resource for those seeking to support children through school safety preparations.
A young boy worries during a school lockdown drill.
Told from a first-person perspective, the tale makes Henry’s inner turmoil seem immediate and authentic. The evocative language—his stomach feels “twisted in the middle like a bunch of tissue paper butterflies”—creates vivid imagery that captures the emotional weight of the experience. As Henry struggles to remain small, still, and quiet despite his mounting anxiety, the rhythmic, flowing text mirrors his journey from fear to gradual calm, guided by his attentive teacher, Ms. Betancourt, who introduces breathing exercises and sensory-awareness techniques. The reassuring narrative pairs perfectly with Grimard’s soft-lined illustrations in a comforting, pleasing palette that visually conveys Henry’s emotional state throughout this challenging experience. Henry is dark-haired and appears to be of East Asian descent, while Ms. Betancourt is brown-skinned, and the other kids vary in skin tone and hair types, all rendered in a gentle mix of watercolors, gouache, pencil, and crayon. Particularly valuable are the helpful resources provided by school psychologist Dr. Christina Chester, including discussion questions and mindfulness resources for adults to use when preparing children for these unfortunately necessary drills.
A compassionate resource for those seeking to support children through school safety preparations. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780593652220
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
A solid if message-driven conversation starter about the hard parts of learning.
Children realize their dreams one step at a time in this story about growth mindset.
A child crashes and damages a new bicycle on a dark, rainy day. Attempting a wheelie, the novice cyclist falls onto the sidewalk, grimacing, and, having internalized this setback as failure, vows to never ride again but to “walk…forever.” Then the unnamed protagonist happens upon a glowing orb in the forest, a “thought rearranger-er”—a luminous pink fairy called the Magical Yet. This Yet reminds the child of past accomplishments and encourages perseverance. The second-person rhyming couplets remind readers that mistakes are part of learning and that with patience and effort, children can achieve. Readers see the protagonist learn to ride the bike before a flash-forward shows the child as a capable college graduate confidently designing a sleek new bike. This book shines with diversity: racial, ethnic, ability, and gender. The gender-indeterminate protagonist has light brown skin and exuberant curly locks; Amid the bustling secondary cast, one child uses a prosthesis, and another wears hijab. At no point in the text is the Yet defined as a metaphor for a growth mindset; adults reading with younger children will likely need to clarify this abstract lesson. The artwork is powerful and detailed—pay special attention to the endpapers that progress to show the Yet at work.
A solid if message-driven conversation starter about the hard parts of learning. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-368-02562-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion/LBYR
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2020
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