Maybe one to share on an actual school Jammie Day, but caregivers may want to be on the alert afterward.
A middle child takes advantage of adults’ distractedness.
Cliffy has a big brother and a big sister who think they know everything and a little brother and a little sister who know almost nothing. He’s in between, and he knows his own mind. So one morning, when the before-school chaos is in full swing and Cliffy’s harried mother tells him to get dressed, he does “something a little bit funny. A little bit fuzzy.” He announces, “It’s Jammie Day.” Her response is the same as all the other adults’ responses: “Oh?” accompanied by, “She might not have been paying attention.” But his classmates take note, and in future days they too enjoy the perks of wearing jammies to school. And for Cliffy, Jammie Day turns into Jammie Month and Jammie Year, his white-with–rainbow–polka-dot pajamas showing increasing signs of wear. The final, wordless page shows the whole pajama-clad family, but Cliffy’s fib remains unaddressed, so readers may come away with the idea that it’s OK to use adults’ distraction for personal advantage. And really, no matter how many kids in the family or in the class, what adult is truly not going to notice a kid who wears the same thing every day? Cliffy and his family are white; his class is a diverse one.
Maybe one to share on an actual school Jammie Day, but caregivers may want to be on the alert afterward. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-77147-200-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
A disappointing follow-up.
Inventor Izzy Gizmo is back in this sequel to her eponymous debut (2017).
While busily inventing one day, Izzy receives an invitation from the Genius Guild to their annual convention. Though Izzy’s “inventions…don’t always work,” Grandpa (apparently her sole caregiver) encourages her to go. The next day they undertake a long journey “over fields, hills, and waves” and “mile after mile” to isolated Technoff Isle. There, Izzy finds she must compete against four other kids to create the most impressive machine. The colorful, detail-rich illustrations chronicle how poor Izzy is thwarted at every turn by Abi von Lavish, a Veruca Salt–esque character who takes all the supplies for herself. But when Abi abandons her project, Izzy salvages the pieces and decides to take Grandpa’s advice to create a machine that “can really be put to good use.” A frustrated Izzy’s impatience with a friend almost foils her chance at the prize, but all’s well that ends well. There’s much to like: Brown-skinned inventor girl Izzy is an appealing character, it’s great to see a nurturing brown-skinned male caregiver, the idea of an “Invention Convention” is fun, and a sustainable-energy invention is laudable. However, these elements don’t make up for rhymes that often feel forced and a lackluster story.
A disappointing follow-up. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68263-164-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
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
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