An earnest but less-than-convincing attempt at fostering inclusion.
A child named America feels out of place at a new school.
America is clearly nervous. Though the child isn’t visually depicted (each scene is viewed from the young narrator’s perspective), America confesses, “My hands are shaking so bad, I drop my backpack.” As class begins, the teacher, Mr. Downs, invites the students to introduce themselves and share their dreams, which include scoring the winning World Cup goal and singing on Broadway. But when it’s America’s turn, the child freezes up, and the other students giggle and sneer. During recess, America stays inside, buried in a biography of Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Downs offers America books about historical figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Sojourner Truth, people who sometimes felt they didn’t belong. That night, these larger-than-life people visit America in a dream and share words of wisdom. The next day goes better: America speaks up, and the other students welcome America into the fold. McKinnon tells a heartfelt yet didactic story, accompanied by Phuong’s earth-toned illustrations. The legendary figures America meets are reduced to flattened, simplistic depictions. McKinnon offers a one-sided view of friendship and acceptance; while America does plenty of soul-searching, the other students don’t reflect on their unkindness—which may inadvertently leave readers believing that the onus is on bullied children to work harder to fit in. The other kids’ ultimate willingness to embrace America also seems unrealistically rushed. The class is diverse; Mr. Downs is light-skinned.
An earnest but less-than-convincing attempt at fostering inclusion. (author’s note, information on historical figures) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 4, 2024
ISBN: 9780593658796
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2024
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
