by Boriana Todorov ; illustrated by Vladimir Todorov ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 27, 2013
Definitely a book aimed at high-energy boys.
Photorealistic, vibrantly colored, sometimes-disturbing images tell an amped-up story of sibling jealousy.
Like Max in Where the Wild Things Are, neglected big brother Oliver seeks revenge on his family through an imaginative encounter; he takes as his vehicle three animated fuzzy balls, quaintly named Basil, Cedric and Rasmus, he finds in a box in the attic. Each Tantrum, when thrown hard at his long-suffering mother, transforms itself into a truly scary monster and inflicts near-biblical punishments of flood, food and toys gone mad. Fortunately Mom is tough and can stand up to all this bad treatment. She confronts Oliver’s demons wearing various uniforms—hazmat suit, firefighting gear, full armor. Finally she lowers her sword, opens her visor and explains to him that she loves him and didn’t mean to ignore him. The hyperactive Oliver is somewhat mollified by this, and together, mother and child conquer the dreadful Tantrums by putting the now-harmless balls back in their box. In a hint of things to come, however, little sister Polly is seen discovering the Tantrums for herself. Illustrator Vladimir Todorov’s background in animated movies is clearly evident in the high quality of the airbrushed photographic artwork, which almost seems to pop off the pages. In one particularly memorable image, a monster made of spaghetti leers at Mom with olive eyes and a particularly nasty-looking pepperoni tongue.
Definitely a book aimed at high-energy boys. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: April 27, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-897476-67-3
Page Count: 34
Publisher: Simply Read Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 26, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2013
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by Aly Raisman ; illustrated by Bea Jackson ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 2, 2024
Necessary and empowering.
Olympic gold medalist Raisman, who in 2017 spoke out about the sexual abuse she’d endured, presents a primer on bodily autonomy.
“I am strong. I am beautiful. I am unique. I am enough.” So begin the affirmations that appear in this sensitively written book. Raisman underscores the importance of being kind to one’s body and listening to what it needs. She notes that others need to ask permission before touching our bodies; sometimes the answer will be yes, but other times, it will be no. Either is acceptable. Sometimes, someone will forget to ask or won’t respect the answer. When that happens, children can tell them to stop. If they feel unsafe, and it’s hard to say no, they can ask for help from people who make them feel safe. Our voices are just as “powerful,” “beautiful,” and “worthy” as our bodies. Emphasizing the strength inherent in every person—and making clear that we all deserve respect—Raisman has created a much-needed resource for starting a dialogue about consent. Backmatter offers tips for adults about discussing bodies and boundaries. Jackson’s expressive, pastorally soft illustrations depict people, diverse in terms of race, ability, and body type, practicing gymnastics, gardening, and playing basketball. A light-skinned girl wearing a shirt reading “Aly,” presumably a stand-in for the author, features prominently.
Necessary and empowering. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781250798107
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024
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by Aly Raisman with Blythe Lawrence
by Pip Jones ; illustrated by Sara Ogilvie ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2020
A disappointing follow-up.
Inventor Izzy Gizmo is back in this sequel to her eponymous debut (2017).
While busily inventing one day, Izzy receives an invitation from the Genius Guild to their annual convention. Though Izzy’s “inventions…don’t always work,” Grandpa (apparently her sole caregiver) encourages her to go. The next day they undertake a long journey “over fields, hills, and waves” and “mile after mile” to isolated Technoff Isle. There, Izzy finds she must compete against four other kids to create the most impressive machine. The colorful, detail-rich illustrations chronicle how poor Izzy is thwarted at every turn by Abi von Lavish, a Veruca Salt–esque character who takes all the supplies for herself. But when Abi abandons her project, Izzy salvages the pieces and decides to take Grandpa’s advice to create a machine that “can really be put to good use.” A frustrated Izzy’s impatience with a friend almost foils her chance at the prize, but all’s well that ends well. There’s much to like: Brown-skinned inventor girl Izzy is an appealing character, it’s great to see a nurturing brown-skinned male caregiver, the idea of an “Invention Convention” is fun, and a sustainable-energy invention is laudable. However, these elements don’t make up for rhymes that often feel forced and a lackluster story.
A disappointing follow-up. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68263-164-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
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by Pip Jones ; illustrated by Sara Ogilvie
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by Pip Jones ; illustrated by Laura Hughes
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by Pip Jones ; illustrated by Ella Okstad
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