A RAINBOW IN YOUR CLOUD

Name: A RAINBOW IN YOUR CLOUD
Author: Amina Mucciolo
ISBN: 9781338792409

by Amina Mucciolo ; illustrated by Elle Pierre ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 4, 2025

A less-than-compelling story, though the striking art and crucial messages of self-acceptance will strike a chord with many.

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Instagram influencer Mucciolo offers an ode to unicorns—and to self-love.

Amina, who uses they/them pronouns, doesn’t want to admit that they still like unicorns, though their friends have moved on to new interests. But, with the support of their loving pals, Amina soon realizes that it’s better to embrace their true self. This brief plotline takes place over just a few two-page spreads in the middle of the book; otherwise, there’s no real narrative arc, with most pages devoted to Amina offering a series of affirmations: “Whenever I wear an outfit that makes me feel happy…or braid my hair the way I like, my rainbow glows and grows.” The bright, lively, candy-colored cartoon illustrations are a strength; they’ll draw readers’ attention far more than the words. Still, the book offers much-needed encouragement to readers afraid to let their own rainbows shine; neurodivergent children will feel especially bolstered when Amina describes their tendency to flap their hands when they’re excited. One of the most important lessons occurs when Amina pushes back against the idea of being seen as “a little too much”: “I don’t care because I know I’m just right.” The characters all present Black and have fun, memorable designs, from vibrant hair colors to snazzy clothing patterns. On the final spread, they all appear together, labeled by name.

A less-than-compelling story, though the striking art and crucial messages of self-acceptance will strike a chord with many. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: March 4, 2025

ISBN: 9781338792409

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING

by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...

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Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.

First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 1, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Kids Can

Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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BYE BYE, BUTTERFLY
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

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NO MOUSIE LEFT BEHIND
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

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THE MOST MAGNIFICENT MAKER'S A TO Z
by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)