A joyful, nuanced book that encourages STEAM problem-solving skills.
A slew of problems at the beach are no match for artist and inventor Amelia in Odusanya’s illustrated children’s book.
Amelia loves to make art anywhere,with anything she can find. She approaches a family trip to the beach as a big opportunity to be creative, but obstacles seem to keep popping up. When she arrives at the shore, she immediately scouts out “loose parts,” such as shells and seaweed lying on the ground. She also finds a robin’s egg, tucked under a leaf. The nest from which it fell is too high for her to reach, and she’s worried she can’t help. “Maybe so,” her father says, “but ideas are inside of you, and solutions are all around you. You just have to find them.” Encouraged, Amelia builds a nest of her own for the egg. Before she can get back to her original creative mission, she finds a fish trapped in an apparent tidal pool. Careful planning and positive self-talk lead her to dig a canal lined with rocks for the fish to swim back into the ocean. Finally, as Amelia prepares to relax, a boy needs help building a sandcastle. The two children work together to build a delightful structure until it’s time to return home, but that doesn’t stop Amelia from bringing a little bit of the beach back with her. Odusanya’s second installment in the Amelia’s Loose Part Art series, after its eponymous debut in 2023, effectively models basic problem-solving and social-emotional skills in a setting involving science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math (STEAM). Amelia’s insecurities and her passion for her art are relatable, and she provides tongue-in-cheek names for her creations, such as “Follow the Rocky Brick Road.” Medonza’s brightly colored cartoon illustrations are fully integrated with the text and work well together, much like Amelia and the boy that she befriends. The images portray Amelia with tan skin and curly brown hair; other characters have a range of skin tones. Instructions for various creative activities are included at the book’s end.
A joyful, nuanced book that encourages STEAM problem-solving skills.Pub Date: April 8, 2025
ISBN: 9781739007041
Page Count: -
Publisher: Sunshine and Rain Co.
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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