Youngsters may want to learn more about Norse lore after reading this pleasant tale.
by Adam Auerbach ; illustrated by Adam Auerbach ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 12, 2019
A diminutive green Viking who makes music instead of war is the eventual hero of this small saga.
Three Vikings, an orange man with a beard (the “strongest”), a blue woman with purplish hair (the “bravest”), and a small green Viking boy, all wearing the requisite helmets with horns, want to enter Valhalla, “the magical place where the strongest and bravest Vikings go.” During their ensuing adventures, the smallest Viking works hard to show the others that he has what it takes to enter Odin’s magical hall, but he usually comes up short. First the trio confronts “an ornery troll,” then a kraken, and then a dragon. With each monster, the littlest Viking tries to use music to save the day, but the strongest and the bravest Vikings must step in. When they finally reach their goal, however, the smallest Viking finds his niche: There are no musicians among the multicolored inhabitants of Valhalla. Just as in Leo Lionni’s Frederick, the warriors “had been waiting for just the right Viking to come along and fill their days with music and stories.” Bold, humorous cartoon illustrations, created with pen and ink, watercolor, and digital color, will hold the interest of group listeners. The message that the arts are as important as fighting is a positive one.
Youngsters may want to learn more about Norse lore after reading this pleasant tale. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: March 12, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-62779-601-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano/Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Nov. 21, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2018
Categories: CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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BOOK REVIEW
by Adam Auerbach ; illustrated by Adam Auerbach
BOOK REVIEW
by Adam Auerbach ; illustrated by Adam Auerbach
by Kelly Rowland and Jessica McKay ; illustrated by Fanny Liem ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 26, 2022
Grammy-winning, multiplatinum singer/songwriter Rowland teams up with California teacher McKay to celebrate busy moms.
This picture book highlights a mother’s frequent longing to be with her child when life’s demands pull them apart. The story takes us through a busy Black mom’s week: She goes to work (at a construction site where she appears to be an engineer), works from home on her son’s sick day, takes him to a museum, and shares domestic duties with her Black male partner, who is a nurse. She encounters many bumps in the road that will be familiar to working parents. Each day, she gently reassures her son with a lyrical refrain: “Always with you, / Always with me, / Mommy and child / Together we’ll be.” This tender story, narrated in the voice of a mother addressing her child, pulls at the heartstrings. Liem’s digital artwork uses a warm palette and has a calming quality. The characters’ body language and heartfelt facial expressions are spot-on. This book will resonate with any mom who knows the heartache of having to say goodbye to their child or who has faced the teary-eyed frustration of a youngster experiencing separation anxiety. Young readers, on the other hand, will find solace in the reassuring narrative. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An honest look at motherhood in the contemporary era and a sweet tribute to the bond between mother and child. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: April 26, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-46551-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Feb. 9, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
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by Sonia Sander & Kyla May ; illustrated by Kyla May ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2019
A cuddly, squishy pug’s puggy-wuggy diary.
Equipped with both #pugunicorn and #pughotdog outfits, pug Baron von Bubbles (aka Bub) is the kind of dog that always dresses to impress. Bub also makes lots of memorable faces, such as the “Hey, you’re not the boss of me!” expression aimed at Duchess, the snooty pink house cat. Some of Bub’s favorite things include skateboarding, a favorite teddy, and eating peanut butter. Bub also loves Bella, who adopted Bub from a fair—it was “love at first sniff.” Together, Bub and Bella do a lot of arts and crafts. Their latest project: entering Bella’s school’s inventor challenge by making a super-duper awesome rocket. But, when the pesky neighborhood squirrel, Nutz, makes off with Bub’s bear, Bub accidentally ruins their project. How will they win the contest? More importantly, how will Bella ever forgive him? May’s cutesy, full-color cartoon art sets the tone for this pug-tastic romp for the new-to–chapter-books crowd. Emojilike faces accentuate Bub’s already expressive character design. Bub’s infectious first-person narration pushes the silly factor off the charts. In addition to creating the look and feel of a diary, the lined paper helps readers follow the eight-chapter story. Most pages have fewer than five sentences, often broken into smaller sections. Additional text appears in color-coded speech bubbles. Bella presents white.
Totes adorbs. (Fiction. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-53003-2
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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