A vivid, loving homage to family, embodied in an activity beloved by all.
A fourth-generation surfer girl loses a family heirloom, but the board carries onward to further watery adventures.
In Lana’s mother’s surf shop hangs “a surfboard, aged by weather, use, and love.” Lana’s great-grandmother first found the board, cleaned it up, and taught herself to surf. “Then she taught her daughter, who taught her daughter, who taught Lana.” Tempted by “a big swell,” Lana can’t resist grabbing the board to catch the perfect wave. A crash returns her to shore but sends the board out to sea. When she anxiously confesses to her grandmother, Lana expects anger but receives loving understanding about letting go. The board, meanwhile, floats through the sea, having new experiences, until it lands on shore. It’s discovered by a young girl, who uses it to teach herself to surf. Years later, Lana recognizes the familiar board, 5,000 miles away. Feagan creates a poignantly interconnected, multigenerational narrative. She uses faded blues, greens, and golds to denote memories and brightly saturated colors to highlight the present. Details of the board’s journey follow the show-don’t-tell motto, with illustrations capturing entertaining encounters with a whale, a giant squid, nesting seagulls, and more. In its newest incarnation, the board finally sprouts an ankle tether to prevent it from moving on—again. Landscapes suggest an island setting, populated by characters depicted in various shades of brown.
A vivid, loving homage to family, embodied in an activity beloved by all. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 9, 2026
ISBN: 9798217040827
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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