There is no playbook for mourning, but this tale provides a gentle guide for the unthinkable.
A look at death, grief, and the messy emotions they evoke.
Readers are informed that this story “is intended to be read aloud by an adult to a child.” Six key points are outlined on how to do so. Then we meet our young protagonist and her parents, all tan-skinned. Mom loves sewing stuffed toys with her daughter, who narrates, but she soon gets sick and passes away. Grief gets buried, the father and child grow distant from each other, and Mom’s belongings are tucked into boxes. A ball of yarn, its threads coming undone, proves a helpful metaphor for the girl’s feelings. Only when she screams, “I WANT IT TO BE LIKE IT WAS BEFORE!” does Dad intercede, and the two begin the healing process together. The bulk of the book wraps itself in the girl’s isolation and misery, only coming to practical advice and heartfelt platitudes in the last few pages. Backmatter asks readers to reflect on their own feelings. Earnest though a bit didactic, the book is buoyed by the skillful illustrations, which visualize vigorous and strong emotions. Originally published in Belgium and the Netherlands and translated from Dutch, the story would have benefitted from concentrating more on how the girl and her father intend to rebuild their relationship. Nonetheless, for those experiencing similar situations, the book offers a map for unmarked territory.
There is no playbook for mourning, but this tale provides a gentle guide for the unthinkable. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2024
ISBN: 9798890630834
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Clavis
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.
Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250393975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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