An ode to late-life nostalgia that will nonetheless be visually enchanting to all ages.
A magical toymaker creates wondrous toys not for children but for grandparents and older people.
Min’s fantastical imagination is once again on full Technicolor display in this fairy tale–like story about a toymaker who lives “in a faraway land, on top of a rainbow mountain.” The twist? The Little Toymaker is a small boy, wearing a red and yellow robe adorned with tiny stars. Older people bring him toys from their childhood, and he rebuilds them into “something new—something magical.” One day, a particularly tough case arrives at his door. A woman has brought a small tin that she played with as a girl. She and the Little Toymaker chat as he tries in vain to revamp her tin, turning it into a flying bird, a train, a music box, and more. But none are just right—until she reveals a story from her past of a special man in her life. Over several lush double-page spreads incorporating fiery explosions of color, sound effects, and romantic memories, the Little Toymaker weaves together elements from the woman’s stories; finally, the toy hits its mark. Though the message might, like the toys themselves, be best suited toward adult readers, the vibrant illustrations, rendered in watercolor and colored pencil, will entice young and old alike. The Little Toymaker presents as Asian, with pale skin and dark hair; the woman he helps is light-skinned and white-haired; and the children and adults depicted near the Little Toymaker’s home are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An ode to late-life nostalgia that will nonetheless be visually enchanting to all ages. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64614-180-7
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Levine Querido
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
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
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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