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
Not astonishingly go-out-and-buy-it-at-graduation inspirational, but all it takes is one seed of change to be planted.
Imagination soars—quite literally—when a little girl follows her own set of rules.
Every year Oak Hill School has a go-kart race called the Going Places contest. Students are given identical go-kart kits with a precise set of instructions. And of course, every single kart ends up exactly the same. Every one, that is, except Maya’s. Maya is a dreamy artist, and she would rather sketch birds in her backyard than get caught up in the competition. When she finally does start working, she uses the parts in the go-kart box but creates something completely different. No one ever said it had to be a go-kart. Maya’s creative thinking inspires Rafael, her neighbor (and the most enthusiastic Going Places contestant), to ask to team up. The instructions never say they couldn’t work together, either! An ode to creativity and individuality to be sure, but the Reynolds brothers are also taking a swipe at modern education: Endless repetition and following instructions without question create a culture of conformity. Hopefully now, readers will see infinite possibility every time the system hands them an identical go-kart box.
Not astonishingly go-out-and-buy-it-at-graduation inspirational, but all it takes is one seed of change to be planted. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-6608-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2014
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