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WHILE WE'RE HERE

Name: WHILE WE'RE HERE
Author: Anne Wynter
ISBN: 9780063238299

by Anne Wynter ; illustrated by Micha Archer ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 24, 2026

A sublime celebration of resilience and what is truly important.

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One sweet twist turns a lemon into pure delight.

“Hurry, hurry,” a frequent life refrain, drumbeats through the first half of this indelible book as a stylish, Black-presenting child-and-adult pair, both clad in skirts, depart for an important rendezvous. Clutching a gift, hurtling down the subway stairs, the child loses a red ballet flat, returned by a friendly fellow passenger in a hoodie. In successive frames, the parent and child run through a vast city park (which New Yorkers will recognize as Central Park), “to the trail… / round the pond… / cross the bridge… / up the hill… / We have somewhere to be!” At last they reach a picnic table, with a lone red balloon, a left-behind sign, and some discarded cups. Quickly, they pull out a party invitation. “Hurry, hurry, / check the date. / Yesterday. / Yesterday?” Face-in-hands disappointment. Writhe in anguish on the slope? Not a bit: “We’ll head back home, / but while we’re here, / let’s take turns rolling down the hill.” Then “let’s see what’s underneath the bridge,” “watch the ducklings / in the pond,” “walk until the trail runs out.” Balloon aloft, disappointment replaced by joy in nature and in being together, the happy child lovingly embraces the resourceful carer. Archer’s brilliantly luminous cut-paper art sets the characters against vibrant greens and blues, where their vermilion jackets, shoes, and balloon pop, while Wynter’s text positively sings.

A sublime celebration of resilience and what is truly important. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: March 24, 2026

ISBN: 9780063238299

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
SO MANY YEARS
by Anne Wynter ; illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey

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PATRICK AND THE NOT SO PERFECT PARTY
by Anne Wynter ; illustrated by Shirley Hottier

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NELL PLANTS A TREE
by Anne Wynter ; illustrated by Daniel Miyares

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE'S A BEACH IN MY BEDROOM
by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson

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I GOT YOU

by Derrick Barnes ; illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2025

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind.

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When Mom and Dad bring baby Rasheed home for the first time, it’s love at first sight for big brother Anthony.

As the boys grow, Anthony teaches his little sibling how to build a tower with blocks (and how to knock it down with a loud “WHOP!!!”), how to ride a bike, and even how to fly (through a well-timed leap from the swings). When thunder and lightning wake them both one night, Anthony assuages Rasheed’s fears with the book’s titular refrain: “I got you.” But one day Anthony goes for a bike ride with his friends, leaving Rasheed alone and hurt. That night, Anthony explains that while he may spend time with his peers, his bond with Rasheed is unbreakable. And as the book comes to a close, with Mom and Dad introducing the boys to their new little sibling, Anthony leaves Rasheed with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to be a supportive big brother himself. Narrated by Rasheed, Barnes’ text is elegant in its simplicity, loving yet never saccharine, and always emotionally honest. Using varied perspectives, Knight-Justice’s richly hued, collagelike digital illustrations combine a patchwork of textures and patterns, immersing readers in this affectionate Black family’s world. Greens and blues dominate the pages, bringing to life an idyllic suburban setting.

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind. (Picture book. 4-8)