CURLEE GIRLEE'S GOT TALENT

Name: CURLEE GIRLEE'S GOT TALENT
Author: Atara Twersky
ISBN: 978-0-9968438-4-3

by Atara Twersky ; illustrated by Karen Wolcott ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 17, 2019

A humorous tale that will encourage young readers, especially girls, to pursue science—and trust that they have unique...

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Twersky (Curlee Girlee, 2016) and Wolcott’s (My Funny Ears, 2016, etc.) spiral-haired protagonist makes a triumphant return in a sequel about finding and embracing your talents.

Curlee Girlee, a pink-wearing, curly haired girly girl, is incredibly excited about her first day of “big-kid school”: first grade. But of course, her hair won’t cooperate. After a run-in with her annoying brother, Curlee turns to her big sister, who helps her tame her locks with magical barrettes. In first grade, she’s happy to be reunited with her kindergarten friends, but when her teacher announces a talent show, she worries: “I’m not good at anything but making a big mess.” She tries to copy her friends’ talents: Tai does ballet, Josie sings, and Henry does magic tricks, but each of Curlee’s attempts goes wrong. She finally has the idea that science could be her talent and steals her brother’s science kit. She first practices making a volcano at home under her mother’s watchful eye and later creates one on her own in class—an effort that turns out to be a huge hit with her friends and her new teacher. Curlee’s class is wonderfully diverse in both its talents and its ethnic representation, though the students have a strange aversion to science for first graders. Wolcott’s soft-edged, digital illustrations, as in the first Curlee Girlee book, perfectly capture their young heroine’s attitude. They also show that there’s no conflict between girls’ liking pink and sparkles and being great at science—and that being messy in the right way can encourage others to make experiments of their own. Twersky’s vocabulary and simple sentences make this a good choice for newly independent readers, who may be dealing with their own fears about fitting in or with finding a way to be special. Some readers may find it odd that Curlee’s mother doesn’t scold her (or impose other consequences) for the theft of her brother’s science kit, but Twersky once again shows a lively girl and a loving family.

A humorous tale that will encourage young readers, especially girls, to pursue science—and trust that they have unique talents.

Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2019

ISBN: 978-0-9968438-4-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sandbox Publishing LLC

Review Posted Online: Jan. 2, 2020

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
CURLEE GIRLEE
by Atara Twersky illustrated by Karen Wolcott

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THE LITTLE GHOST WHO WAS A QUILT

From the Little Ghost Quilt Book series

by Riel Nason ; illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2020

Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available.

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A ghost learns to appreciate his differences.

The little ghost protagonist of this title is unusual. He’s a quilt, not a lightweight sheet like his parents and friends. He dislikes being different despite his mom’s reassurance that his ancestors also had unconventional appearances. Halloween makes the little ghost happy, though. He decides to watch trick-or-treaters by draping over a porch chair—but lands on a porch rail instead. A mom accompanying her daughter picks him up, wraps him around her chilly daughter, and brings him home with them! The family likes his looks and comforting warmth, and the little ghost immediately feels better about himself. As soon as he’s able to, he flies out through the chimney and muses happily that this adventure happened only due to his being a quilt. This odd but gently told story conveys the importance of self-respect and acceptance of one’s uniqueness. The delivery of this positive message has something of a heavy-handed feel and is rushed besides. It also isn’t entirely logical: The protagonist could have been a different type of covering; a blanket, for instance, might have enjoyed an identical experience. The soft, pleasing illustrations’ palette of tans, grays, white, black, some touches of color, and, occasionally, white text against black backgrounds suggest isolation, such as the ghost feels about himself. Most humans, including the trick-or-treating mom and daughter, have beige skin. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 66.2% of actual size.)

Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020

ISBN: 978-0-7352-6447-2

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Tundra Books

Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S PARANORMAL & SUPERNATURAL | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE LITTLE GHOST QUILT'S WINTER SURPRISE
by Riel Nason ; illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler

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DOG DAYS

From the Carver Chronicles series , Vol. 1

by Karen English ; illustrated by Laura Freeman ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 17, 2013

This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...

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A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.

Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.

This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)