Atmospheric and engaging; this Japanese import is a perfect rainy-day read.
Beach-day hopes are dashed by a storm, but in slumber a mighty ship outruns the tempest; and in the morning, the protagonist finds the promise of a new day.
For a week, a child’s excitement for a beach day has grown. But a teacher’s storm warning and the growing dark sky threaten disappointment. Then comes the rain, beating down with a howling wind, sending the child under covers. As sleep and dreams mingle, the protagonist casts off on a Miyazaki-esque flying ship, with propellers strong enough to “drive the storm away.” Through darkness the adventurer travels, until reaching clear skies. Upon awakening, the child finds a bright, blue sky. Miyakoshi’s black-and-white charcoal illustrations, with oh-so-judicious spots of blue, take readers on an emotional journey filled with anticipation, discontent, excitement, and hope. Her varied compositions and sophisticated technique of rendering cloud effects and light in black and white are compelling. As the protagonist climbs a rope ladder, readers will feel the wind in their own hair and a boldness of spirit, and as the sun bursts forth on a spread reminiscent of those of Chris Van Allsburg, a sense of optimism will pervade. Sparse, simple text allows the evocative artwork to shine.
Atmospheric and engaging; this Japanese import is a perfect rainy-day read. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-77138-559-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2016
Making friends isn’t always this easy and convenient.
How do you make a new friend when an old one moves away?
Buddy (from Sorry, Grown-Ups, You Can’t Go to School, 2019, etc.) is feeling lonely. His best friend just moved across town. To make matters worse, there is a field trip coming up, and Buddy needs a bus partner. His sister, Lady, has some helpful advice for making a new pal: “You just need to find something you have in common.” Buddy loves the game Robo Chargers and karate. Surely there is someone else who does, too! Unfortunately, there isn’t. However, when a new student arrives (one day later) and asks everyone to call her Sunny instead of Alison, Buddy gets excited. No one uses his given name, either; they just call him Buddy. He secretly whispers his “real, official name” to Sunny at lunch—an indication that a true friendship is being formed. The rest of the story plods merrily along, all pieces falling exactly into place (she even likes Robo Chargers!), accompanied by Bowers’ digital art, a mix of spot art and full-bleed illustrations. Friendship-building can be an emotionally charged event in a child’s life—young readers will certainly see themselves in Buddy’s plight—but, alas, there is not much storytelling magic to be found. Buddy and his family are White, Sunny and Mr. Teacher are Black, and Buddy’s other classmates are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Making friends isn’t always this easy and convenient. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 12, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-30709-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: March 29, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
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