An eager spectator happily becomes an enthusiastic participant in a New York City parade.
On a bright Sunday, rosy-cheeked and pigtailed Meg and her parents cross the George Washington Bridge from New Jersey to New York to attend the Celebrate Israel Parade. Meg does not want to just stand by and watch; instead she wonders if she can be of assistance to any of the performers. She then imagines herself walking with the mayor, floating above the crowds and tossing out samples of Israeli food, dancing, and carrying an Israeli flag. Aliyah-niks invite her for a visit to Israel as she continues on her way performing “Hatikvah,” Israel’s national anthem, on bagpipes—possibly a musical first. Best of all, she is crowned Grand Marshal. Dreams over and back at home, Meg falls happily asleep while her mother discovers a “shiny, gold CROWN!” that will make readers wonder whether Meg wasn’t imagining everything after all. Rosenbaum’s rhyming couplets establish a light and festive mood, while Lyles’ digitally enhanced collage art presents cheerful scenes of Fifth Avenue and parade participants.
Readers in search of an upbeat slice of New York City life will find it here. (glossary, author’s note) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4677-3906-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2015
Categories: CHILDREN'S RELIGIOUS FICTION
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The Berenstains’ son adds a Mother’s Day entry to the series, continuing the adventures of the Bear family with a religious focus.
Brother, Sister, and Honey want to do something special for Mama for Mother’s Day, and Papa helps them think of just the thing—brunch at the Bear Country Inn after church—and they can invite Grizzly Gran, too. On the ride to church, Mama points out all the ways other families are celebrating their own mothers even though these community helpers are working on the holiday: Officer Marguerite’s children bring her flowers as she directs traffic, and Mrs. Ben’s children are pitching in with farm chores. Indeed, the trip to church is eye-opening for the cubs, who never realized that some of their neighbors even had children. During the church service, Preacher Brown thanks God for the gift of mothers and quotes the Bible: “Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches.” While the illustrations are the same as ever (the smiling bears haven’t aged a bit!), the series seems to have moved away from addressing a variety of families.
This Mother’s Day tale is rather limited in its audience to those who can afford fancy brunch after their own religious services, contrary to its apparent message that being together is all that matters. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-310-74869-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2016
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Spinelli lists many things for which people are thankful.
The pictures tell a pleasing counterpoint to this deceptively simple rhyme. It begins “The waitress is thankful for comfortable shoes. / The local reporter, for interesting news.” The pictures show a little girl playing waitress to her brother, who playacts the reporter. The news gets interesting when the girl trips over the (omnipresent) cat. As the poem continues, the Caucasian children and their parents embody all the different roles and occupations it mentions. The poet is thankful for rhyme and the artist, for light and color, although the girl dancer is not particularly pleased with her brother’s painterly rendition of her visual art. The cozy hotel for the traveler is a tent for the siblings in the backyard, and the grateful chef is their father in the kitchen. Even the pastor (the only character mentioned who is not a family member) is grateful, as he is presented with a posy from the girl, for “God’s loving word.” The line is squiggly and energetic, with pastel color and figures that float over white space or have whole rooms or gardens to roam in. Both children, grateful for morning stories, appear in a double-page spread surrounded by books and stuffed toys as their mother reads to them—an image that begs to be a poster.
Low-key and gentle; a book to be thankful for. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-310-00088-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2015
Categories: CHILDREN'S RELIGIOUS FICTION
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