A nicely illustrated tale that skillfully offers an opportunity for parents and children to connect.
A boy who refuses to wear shoes gets in a sticky situation in this picture book.
As his father mows the lawn, a White boy named Greyson plays. When his shoes become bothersome, Greyson flings them off. Dad instructs him to put them back on to avoid stepping in dog poo. But the footwear causes Greyson to “run slower,” so he takes them off again. Dad is mad; he wraps the shoes on his son’s feet with tape to keep them on. Greyson gets upset and removes his hat and shirt, which Dad tapes back on, too. Soon, things get carried away. Dad, who has “the tape…tight in his hand, / Attached… / By a long sticky band,” starts laughing, falls, and rolls “down on the grass / And out of control.” Soon, father and son are stuck together, bound by tape. Greyson notes: “The two of us / Were jiggling and wiggling.” Later, they giggle about the mishap. Although many readers and parents will relate to the silly scenario, the story depicts a neurodivergent child and his father. Elliott, a retired pediatrician, dedicates the book to her grandson Greyson, who has autism. In a simple rhyme scheme, she recounts a parent’s frustration while emphasizing communication, patience, and understanding. Featuring bright outdoor scenes with lovely blue sky backdrops, Costello’s painted images are simple but charming. Readers will love the playful scenes, including when Greyson bounces in the grass.
A nicely illustrated tale that skillfully offers an opportunity for parents and children to connect.Pub Date: Dec. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-52-558887-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: July 8, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
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
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity.
A collection of parental wishes for a child.
It starts out simply enough: two children run pell-mell across an open field, one holding a high-flying kite with the line “I wish you more ups than downs.” But on subsequent pages, some of the analogous concepts are confusing or ambiguous. The line “I wish you more tippy-toes than deep” accompanies a picture of a boy happily swimming in a pool. His feet are visible, but it's not clear whether he's floating in the deep end or standing in the shallow. Then there's a picture of a boy on a beach, his pockets bulging with driftwood and colorful shells, looking frustrated that his pockets won't hold the rest of his beachcombing treasures, which lie tantalizingly before him on the sand. The line reads: “I wish you more treasures than pockets.” Most children will feel the better wish would be that he had just the right amount of pockets for his treasures. Some of the wordplay, such as “more can than knot” and “more pause than fast-forward,” will tickle older readers with their accompanying, comical illustrations. The beautifully simple pictures are a sweet, kid- and parent-appealing blend of comic-strip style and fine art; the cast of children depicted is commendably multiethnic.
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4521-2699-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2015
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