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PERFECT

The perfect tale to demonstrate the importance of finding beauty in life’s imperfections.

What do you do when your favorite things are no longer perfect?

Golden endpapers crisscrossed with mysterious, uneven lines, followed by an overhead illustration of a child’s room where everything is neatly put away, foreshadow the conflict at the center of this tale. Miki Amelia Masuda, a third-generation Japanese American girl, likes “everything to be perfect.” No broken cookie for her, no torn pants; she even spurns her beloved stuffed toy Owlie when his wing comes off. One day, Miki’s obaachan (grandmother) gives her a ceramic teacup, which Miki loves drinking from. But then she drops the cup. Miki is inconsolable, her stricken face reflected in a teacup shard on the floor. To reassure her, Obaachan teaches her the Japanese practice of kintsugi, meaning “to join together with gold.” Before long, the teacup is whole again, restored with shiny paint along the cracks. As Obaachan mends Miki’s torn pants and Owlie’s wing, she shows Miki that perfect isn’t always best and that mended things can still have just as much heart. Brown’s poignant, tender prose expertly depicts Miki’s emotional ups and downs, enhanced by Jones’ sweet yet elegantly composed art, full of light and vivid color. Together, author and illustrator bring to life the quiet dramas of childhood, gently imparting a powerful lesson that will linger with readers.

The perfect tale to demonstrate the importance of finding beauty in life’s imperfections. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024

ISBN: 9780063280229

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2024

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IT'S NOT EASY BEING A GHOST

From the It's Not Easy Being series

Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.

A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.

Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.

Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024

ISBN: 9780593702901

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024

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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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