An action-packed introduction to a young lemur and his family that might not be very different from readers’ own.
A playful story set in a faraway place about lemurs, love, and family.
It’s hard to miss Little Lemur as the star of this book. In the first image, his large smiling face peers through rainforest foliage and a leaf balances on his head like a jaunty beret. Uncluttered illustrations with stylized, simplified landscapes and solid backgrounds form the backdrop for an active day in Little Lemur’s life. He and the rest of his lemur family have large, expressive eyes, and their striking ringed tails sometimes intertwine to create hearts. Most female lemurs have a flower tucked behind one ear, and Grandma wears glasses, but their behavior is pure lemur. Or it is? Rhyming couplets weave in the facts of Little Lemur’s life (young lemurs are pups, and Little Lemur’s family group is a troop) and allow readers to observe Little Lemur’s day as he is snuggled, fed, and groomed. He nurses and eats figs and crickets. He climbs, tussles, and chases with siblings and cousins, and sometimes he needs help. Readers will have to rotate the book 90 degrees to take in the illustration revealing the dizzying height of the scary cliff where Little Lemur is stranded. Flowing couplets include unusual words for vocabulary building and discussion (tamarind, gambol, tweak, beckon), and creative wordsmithing captures lemur antics (“Auntie beckons Little Lemur to prancity-prance. / The whole troop joins in their jump-jump dance”) and the book’s overriding theme of familial love. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An action-packed introduction to a young lemur and his family that might not be very different from readers’ own. (further facts) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 21, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-374-38847-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.
Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250393975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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
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