Well worth staying awake for.
A resourceful child struggles to fall asleep.
“I must have forgotten how to sleep. No matter how hard I try, I’m still awake.” But red-haired, pink-skinned Lucy isn’t going to just lie there and take it. The young narrator decides to repeat the nighttime wind-down routine—“Maybe I skipped a step when I was getting ready for bed?” Lucy sheds pajamas, (re?)brushes teeth, puts the jammies back on, and (again?) says good night to Dad (who seems to be a single parent), but it’s no use: Lucy just isn’t sleepy. The child decides to take a walk to “clear my head” and indirectly finds a solution. (A bear and a book are involved.) This is an original and dryly witty take on the can’t-get-to-sleep tale, and Zocca’s art, which has cartoon-clean lines and a punchy green-and-purple–heavy palette, does some of the storytelling. A wordless gag involves the family dog, who makes off with a pillow but doesn’t even need it to fall asleep in an armchair; meanwhile, poor wide-awake Lucy, who’s lying on the back of the chair in perfect, purposeful imitation of the pooch, can’t catch a break. Part of Lucy’s charm is the youngster’s less-than-cute look: Zocca tops Lucy’s head with a scraggly bun and gives the child a noticeably weak chin that hardly hinders Lucy’s determination.
Well worth staying awake for. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 19, 2026
ISBN: 9781592704835
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
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
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
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
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 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.
