Readers will happily discover that trip-trapping to friendship and cooperation is indeed a pie-worthy prize.
Trolls come in different sizes and species—as enterprising Ruby and her three brothers are about to find out.
How are they going to pick pails of blueberries for their pie if Santiago the bully won’t let them cross the creek? Each of the three brothers throws the one behind under the proverbial bus in order reach the berries. When it’s Ruby’s turn to cross Santiago’s log, she has another idea. Rather than hand over her nonexistent snack as a toll to the trollish lad, she relies on her creativity and problem-solving skills. With a blueprint, tools, and supplies, Ruby’s ingenuity—and Santiago’s surprising cooperation—manifests as a blue wooden bridge spanning both creek and misunderstandings. What could the toll be for crossing Ruby’s bridge? Pie! Following The Little Red Fort (2018), Maier and Sánchez are back with another bicultural take on a favorite folktale: “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.” The feisty Latina protagonist, red boots and all, is still being sidetracked by her older brothers and the bully of the creek, but, as in the prior book, neither Ruby’s size nor gender is an obstacle to success. Along with succinct dialogue, the refrain’s internal rhymes make for a fun read-aloud experience. Barcelona-born Sánchez’s familiar, bold illustrations form a delightful backdrop to the repurposed story, from the irate bridge bully to the stymied sibling triumvirate.
Readers will happily discover that trip-trapping to friendship and cooperation is indeed a pie-worthy prize. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 6, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-338-53801-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
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
A solid if message-driven conversation starter about the hard parts of learning.
Children realize their dreams one step at a time in this story about growth mindset.
A child crashes and damages a new bicycle on a dark, rainy day. Attempting a wheelie, the novice cyclist falls onto the sidewalk, grimacing, and, having internalized this setback as failure, vows to never ride again but to “walk…forever.” Then the unnamed protagonist happens upon a glowing orb in the forest, a “thought rearranger-er”—a luminous pink fairy called the Magical Yet. This Yet reminds the child of past accomplishments and encourages perseverance. The second-person rhyming couplets remind readers that mistakes are part of learning and that with patience and effort, children can achieve. Readers see the protagonist learn to ride the bike before a flash-forward shows the child as a capable college graduate confidently designing a sleek new bike. This book shines with diversity: racial, ethnic, ability, and gender. The gender-indeterminate protagonist has light brown skin and exuberant curly locks; Amid the bustling secondary cast, one child uses a prosthesis, and another wears hijab. At no point in the text is the Yet defined as a metaphor for a growth mindset; adults reading with younger children will likely need to clarify this abstract lesson. The artwork is powerful and detailed—pay special attention to the endpapers that progress to show the Yet at work.
A solid if message-driven conversation starter about the hard parts of learning. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-368-02562-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion/LBYR
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2020
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