A tender affirmation of intergenerational bonds, echoed in a fine-tuned union between words and images.
A child narrates a starry winter adventure with Nana, while text and pictures hint at the elder’s transition from earthly life to what’s beyond.
As they’ve often done, the two meet at sunset for stargazing on the hill above the child’s cottage, sharing hot chocolate, a blanket, a telescope, and each other’s company. Nana relates astronomical knowledge and “tales from many moons ago.” Tonight, they wait eagerly for “her, a constellation of crumbs scattered in the wind.” The Night Whale (presumably, the winter constellation Cetus) appears, a huge creature who has a clear connection with Nana. The duo dance together to a “magical song.” With permission, Nana and the child climb onto the whale’s back. Off they fly, above oceans, forests, and cities, past the northern lights, then “home—the long way around.” As the fantastic flight comes to a close, the pair’s multisensory communion on the hillside becomes at once a series of realizations, a container for grief, and a poignant parting. “We were stargazers for so long. Now we are explorers.” O’Mara’s lovely pictures evoke the shimmering luminosity of sunset, sea, and starlight. Nana’s accoutrements—her motorbike, telescope, and binoculars—stud the sky like constellations. In final scenes, the child’s parent is present as Nana, riding the Night Whale, waves in loving departure. The characters are tan-skinned.
A tender affirmation of intergenerational bonds, echoed in a fine-tuned union between words and images. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781536238846
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2024
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...
Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.
The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 21, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...
Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.
First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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