Cowabunga! An empowering tale of a youngster riding out waves of anxiety, with triumphant results.
Will today be the day that this young surfer makes it “past the whitewash…where the real waves are”?
Our protagonist awakens, consumed by worries: “The ocean is big and strong and I’m feeling…not like that at all.” The child’s anxiety builds at breakfast time: “My eggs smile at me, but I don’t smile back.” The child and Abuelita (“I call her Lita”) don wet suits, smear sunscreen, wax their surfboards, head to the beach, and enter the water. Katona intertwines creative descriptions of the youngster’s turmoil with references to surfing preparation and jargon as Lita encourages her grandchild to “become friends with your fears.” The child paddles on with renewed courage, taking deep breaths and focusing as the wave approaches. Success! “I glide through the water, almost forgetting to a take a breath.” Best of all? Lita’s right there, cheering the youngster on. Palacios’ simple, brightly colored graphic art pairs well with Katona’s text, beginning with the child’s bedroom, which is loaded with surfer paraphernalia and shows a view of the palm-treed beach. The grandparent/grandchild relationship is utterly sweet, with Lita giving the child the freedom to make missteps but always providing warm, much-needed support. Kids fretting over taking a big step of their own—especially young surfers—will find a kindred spirit here. Both characters are brown-skinned and Latine.
Cowabunga! An empowering tale of a youngster riding out waves of anxiety, with triumphant results. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9780593857014
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Rocky Pond Books/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.”
Bewitched by the rhythms of jazz all around her in Depression-era Kansas City, little Melba Doretta Liston longs to make music in this fictional account of a little-known jazz great.
Picking up the trombone at 7, the little girl teaches herself to play with the support of her Grandpa John and Momma Lucille, performing on the radio at 8 and touring as a pro at just 17. Both text and illustrations make it clear that it’s not all easy for Melba; “The Best Service for WHITES ONLY” reads a sign in a hotel window as the narrative describes a bigotry-plagued tour in the South with Billie Holiday. But joy carries the day, and the story ends on a high note, with Melba “dazzling audiences and making headlines” around the world. Russell-Brown’s debut text has an innate musicality, mixing judicious use of onomatopoeia with often sonorous prose. Morrison’s sinuous, exaggerated lines are the perfect match for Melba’s story; she puts her entire body into her playing, the exaggerated arch of her back and thrust of her shoulders mirroring the curves of her instrument. In one thrilling spread, the evening gown–clad instrumentalist stands over the male musicians, her slide crossing the gutter while the back bow disappears off the page to the left. An impressive discography complements a two-page afterword and a thorough bibliography.
Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.” (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-60060-898-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2014
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