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SOMEONE FARTED

Name: SOMEONE FARTED
Author: Bruce Eric Kaplan
ISBN: 978-1-4814-9063-4

by Bruce Eric Kaplan ; illustrated by Bruce Eric Kaplan ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 17, 2018

For slightly sophisticated connoisseurs of the crass.

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Can one stinky toot land the whole Krupke family in the clink?

On the way to do the “dreaded” grocery shopping, someone in the Krupke car cuts a biscuit. Sally is the one who smelt it, but no one owns up to having dealt it. The smell gets so bad that their mother wonders if she will faint, and brother Vinnie wonders if they will be poisoned. When their mother sprays hand sanitizer and it gets in their father’s eyes as he drives, he nearly hits a pedestrian. Sally and Vinnie begin throwing things at each other, and one of their toys hits the responding police officer—and the whole family is thrown into jail and interrogated. Still, no one owns up to shooting the fairy. In the holding cell with thieves and kidnappers, both parents and Vinnie allow that each could have been the culprit (and one of the kidnappers is sure Sally’s lying). An impassioned speech before the judge frees the family…but, unfortunately, they still have to get groceries. Kaplan’s gassy guignol will elicit titters at the toot references and a giggle or two at the hyperbolic cause-and-effect plot. The simple watercolor-and-ink illustrations depict scribbly figures with vacant, Little Orphan Annie eyes that accentuate the droll humor. The Krupkes and the cop are pink-skinned; the other criminals are mildly diverse, and the judge has brown skin.

For slightly sophisticated connoisseurs of the crass. (Picture book. 4-9)

Pub Date: April 17, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-4814-9063-4

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Jan. 21, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
MEANIEHEAD
by Bruce Eric Kaplan ; illustrated by Bruce Eric Kaplan

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

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Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.

Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: March 29, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin

Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE'S A BEACH IN MY BEDROOM
by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson

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I GOT YOU

by Derrick Barnes ; illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2025

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind.

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When Mom and Dad bring baby Rasheed home for the first time, it’s love at first sight for big brother Anthony.

As the boys grow, Anthony teaches his little sibling how to build a tower with blocks (and how to knock it down with a loud “WHOP!!!”), how to ride a bike, and even how to fly (through a well-timed leap from the swings). When thunder and lightning wake them both one night, Anthony assuages Rasheed’s fears with the book’s titular refrain: “I got you.” But one day Anthony goes for a bike ride with his friends, leaving Rasheed alone and hurt. That night, Anthony explains that while he may spend time with his peers, his bond with Rasheed is unbreakable. And as the book comes to a close, with Mom and Dad introducing the boys to their new little sibling, Anthony leaves Rasheed with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to be a supportive big brother himself. Narrated by Rasheed, Barnes’ text is elegant in its simplicity, loving yet never saccharine, and always emotionally honest. Using varied perspectives, Knight-Justice’s richly hued, collagelike digital illustrations combine a patchwork of textures and patterns, immersing readers in this affectionate Black family’s world. Greens and blues dominate the pages, bringing to life an idyllic suburban setting.

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind. (Picture book. 4-8)