A toe-tapping ode to invention.
The streets of pre–World War II Trinidad ring with rhythm, invention, and possibility in this picture-book biography of Winston “Spree” Simon (1930-1976).
Young Spree is enthralled by the bustling sounds of his neighborhood, John-John, but his favorite is his brother’s kettledrum, crafted from an old biscuit tin. Soon Spree is studying the older boys on the corner, where spoons, bottles, and tin drums create irresistible rhythms: “likki-ting, likki-ting, likki-ting…da-da-da-DUM!” When Spree gets his own biscuit tin, he is determined to become the best player in John-John. Before long, he’s leading a rhythm band and plays in Carnival celebrations until the war quiets public festivities. When a friend accidentally warps the soft metal of Spree’s drum, he furiously pounds the dents with a rock, only to discover new tones ringing out. Tapping the altered surface, he realizes the drum can do more than keep rhythm: It can carry melody. That breakthrough leads Spree toward the development of the steelpan, widely recognized as the only acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century. Though the lengthy narrative is slow to gain momentum, the backmatter adds depth and interest; both work in tandem to celebrate curiosity and perseverance and highlight the joyful revelation that music can come from almost anywhere. Warm, expressive faces, loose linework, and watercolor-inspired splashes of color imbue the digitally illustrated scenes with energetic, scrappy charm.
A toe-tapping ode to invention. (Picture-book biography. 4-8)Pub Date: July 14, 2026
ISBN: 9780063093249
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
A supplemental rather than introductory book on the great artist.
Frida Kahlo’s strong affection for and identification with animals form the lens through which readers view her life and work in this picture-book biography.
Each two-page spread introduces one or more of her pets, comparing her characteristics to theirs and adding biographical details. Confusingly for young readers, the beginning pages reference pets she owned as an adult, yet the illustrations and events referred to come from earlier in her life. Bonito the parrot perches in a tree overlooking young Frida and her family in her childhood home and pops up again later, just before the first mention of Diego Rivera. Granizo, the fawn, another pet from her adult years, is pictured beside a young Frida and her father along with a description of “her life as a little girl.” The author’s note adds important details about Kahlo’s life and her significance as an artist, as well as recommending specific paintings that feature her beloved animals. Expressive acrylic paintings expertly evoke Kahlo’s style and color palette. While young animal lovers will identify with her attachment to her pets and may enjoy learning about the Aztec origins of her Xolo dogs and the meaning of turkeys in ancient Mexico, the book may be of most interest to those who already have an interest in Kahlo’s life.
A supplemental rather than introductory book on the great artist. (Picture book/biography. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4269-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: NorthSouth
Review Posted Online: June 18, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Blandly inspirational fare made to evoke equally shrink-wrapped responses.
An NBA star pays tribute to the influence of his grandfather.
In the same vein as his Long Shot (2009), illustrated by Frank Morrison, this latest from Paul prioritizes values and character: “My granddad Papa Chilly had dreams that came true,” he writes, “so maybe if I listen and watch him, / mine will too.” So it is that the wide-eyed Black child in the simply drawn illustrations rises early to get to the playground hoops before anyone else, watches his elder working hard and respecting others, hears him cheering along with the rest of the family from the stands during games, and recalls in a prose afterword that his grandfather wasn’t one to lecture but taught by example. Paul mentions in both the text and the backmatter that Papa Chilly was the first African American to own a service station in North Carolina (his presumed dream) but not that he was killed in a robbery, which has the effect of keeping the overall tone positive and the instructional content one-dimensional. Figures in the pictures are mostly dark-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Blandly inspirational fare made to evoke equally shrink-wrapped responses. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-81003-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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