A delicious introduction to new food and old traditions.
A young boy of Nigerian descent knows what he likes and what he doesn’t…or so he thinks.
“Emeka knows a lot”—that his older brother will walk him home every afternoon, that every evening at 6:00 Mama will serve him two big spoonfuls of jollof rice, and that he’ll stick to his beloved rice, despite Papa’s encouragement to try Mama’s egusi (a traditional Nigerian soup). But one day, Mama tasks Emeka with helping her prepare egusi. Together, they assemble ingredients—among them bitter leaf, beef, and crayfish—and add them one by one to the simmering pot. Enveloped by the dish’s enticing aroma, Emeka takes a bite. And tonight, the whole family—Emeka included—happily dines on egusi. Iloh’s methodically paced story is as warm and flavorful as the titular soup. Inspired by their younger sibling, they offer a loving portrait of a child on the autistic spectrum who’s supported by family members eager to meet him where he is. Emeka’s adherence to routine is never framed as a negative; instead, Iloh emphasizes his strengths: his curiosity and sense of wonder. Jackson has a rare gift for capturing emotion through body language and facial expression. Her digital illustrations rely on multiple angles, photorealistic depictions of the foods, and masterful use of light and shadow—all of which adds up to both an utterly immersive culinary experience and a tale of familial bonding at its best.
A delicious introduction to new food and old traditions. (author’s note, egusi recipe) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781665937610
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2026
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
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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
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BOOK REVIEW
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