A colorful, engaging picture book that shows great understanding of its subject.
A child with autism hopes that his grandmother’s gift-filled suitcase holds one special toy in Elliott’s picture book.
When Grammie comes to visit, her little grandson, Grey, is anxious, worried that among all the presents she has brought, she might have forgotten the one toy he requested: a teddy bear with whom he can cuddle, dream, and feel secure—a special friend who will understand Grey even when he struggles: “He’ll know that sometimes, / whenever I’m stressed, / I may sit and rock, / but, he’ll wait ’til I rest.” Children will get a kick out of artist Costello’s watercolor illustrations, which are full of lively detail—showing toys, new clothes, tasty goodies, “stuff for my mom,” and even treats for the family dog flying out of Grammie’s overstuffed suitcase. After a few pages of well-calibrated suspense, which include Costello’s depictions of Grey's ponderings about what to name the bear and what they’ll do together, the satisfying reveal is everything that Grey—and readers—could hope for. Overall, retired pediatrician Elliott tells this tale with gentle warmth; it follows Greyson’s Shoes (2020), her debut and first collaboration with Costello; both books are based on Elliott’s experiences with her autistic grandson.
A colorful, engaging picture book that shows great understanding of its subject.Pub Date: Oct. 29, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-03-911599-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet Runaway Bunny book for the pirate set.
While reading a book about pirates, Danny considers sailing away with them. But what if he wants to come home?
As he reads with his mom, little Danny wonders aloud what it would be like to be a pirate. From the comfort of his couch, his questions persist. “What if I don’t like it on the pirate ship? And I want to come back home?” With steadfast love, his mother answers every “What if…?” with confident answers that reassure the young boy. Danny considers many logical barriers to his rescue, including the dangers of the ocean and the possibility that the friendly pirates may want to keep him. His mother’s answers, however, involve the magical element of a bottle filled with "magic spray." She metaphorically shrinks the problems with a few pumps of a handle. These "Alice in Wonderland" solutions seem unjustified given Danny’s reasonable questions. Luckily, the colorful full-spread illustrations simplify the nonsense and provide a mood of happy security throughout the story. Fortenberry’s playful illustrations freely borrow from cartoon conventions; the adorable Danny expresses no doubts about his security through two little dots for eyes.
A sweet Runaway Bunny book for the pirate set. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2321-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: July 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2011
A feel-good picture book about diversity, family relationships, and self-love.
In this book, an unnamed Sikh girl describes the way she and her father take care of their hair.
In accordance with Sikh tradition, the narrator and her father both wear their dark hair long. The narrator describes how her father helps her comb her hair, using coconut oil to detangle it. Some days, she says, he plaits her hair into two long braids just like her grandmother’s. Other days, he twists it into a bun that matches his own, and the two become the titular “hair twins.” When the protagonist comes home from school, she lets her hair out and dances with her father, enjoying her long, free tresses. Afterward, the father ties the girl’s hair into one long braid while he ties a turban on his head. The story ends with the girl and her father going to the park to meet the girl’s friends and their families, all of whom have their own varied hairstyles and family structures—a conclusion that reinforces the book’s celebration of all types of hair, bodies, and people. Hatam’s illustrations are both child friendly and clever, incorporating symbolism from the text into fanciful pictures that burst with pride and joy. The lyrical text is both accessible and poetic, and the narratorial voice has a sincerity and enthusiasm that make it a delight to read. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 42.6 % of actual size.)
A feel-good picture book about diversity, family relationships, and self-love. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-316-49530-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2021
PERSPECTIVES
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