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THE TOY PLANE

Name: THE TOY PLANE
Author: Cherise Harris
ISBN: 9781665960564

by Cherise Harris ; illustrated by Cherise Harris ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2026

A winningly tenderhearted fantasy about navigating grief.

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A boy grieving his recently deceased grandmother, who was once a pilot, takes to the skies to keep her memory alive.

Following a memorial service for his grandmother, a Black child named Leonard sits outside on a swing, clutching a sepia-toned photo depicting his grandmother in pilot attire, standing before a single-engine airplane. The boy’s father hands him a red toy plane—“Leonard wanted to be a pilot like his granny,” explains an omniscient narrator—and he whooshes it around. After the plane gets stuck in a tree, the story veers into fantasy: A bird makes off with the toy, and Leonard stumbles trying to reclaim it, landing on the back of a giant white bird. As they fly after the stolen plane, Leonard’s grandmother, who has taken the form of sa phoenixlike creature, comes to his aid before flying away. Harris’ effort to offer solace to grieving young readers tends toward metaphor (“Sometimes a memory is an adventure… / lifting you high above the clouds”) and affirmation (Leonard recalls his grandmother’s admonishment “Remember, you are brave”). Getting the message across less abstractly, and perhaps more effectively, are Harris’ digitally tweaked mixed-media illustrations, which are sure-handed, sensitive, and inviting.

A winningly tenderhearted fantasy about navigating grief. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: March 31, 2026

ISBN: 9781665960564

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Nov. 8, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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CARLA AND THE TIN CAN CAKE PARTY
by Carla Hall ; illustrated by Cherise Harris

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JERRY CHANGED THE GAME!
by Don Tate ; illustrated by Cherise Harris

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THE WITCH'S APPRENTICE
by Zetta Elliott ; illustrated by Cherise Harris

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE'S A BEACH IN MY BEDROOM
by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson

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I GOT YOU

by Derrick Barnes ; illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2025

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind.

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When Mom and Dad bring baby Rasheed home for the first time, it’s love at first sight for big brother Anthony.

As the boys grow, Anthony teaches his little sibling how to build a tower with blocks (and how to knock it down with a loud “WHOP!!!”), how to ride a bike, and even how to fly (through a well-timed leap from the swings). When thunder and lightning wake them both one night, Anthony assuages Rasheed’s fears with the book’s titular refrain: “I got you.” But one day Anthony goes for a bike ride with his friends, leaving Rasheed alone and hurt. That night, Anthony explains that while he may spend time with his peers, his bond with Rasheed is unbreakable. And as the book comes to a close, with Mom and Dad introducing the boys to their new little sibling, Anthony leaves Rasheed with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to be a supportive big brother himself. Narrated by Rasheed, Barnes’ text is elegant in its simplicity, loving yet never saccharine, and always emotionally honest. Using varied perspectives, Knight-Justice’s richly hued, collagelike digital illustrations combine a patchwork of textures and patterns, immersing readers in this affectionate Black family’s world. Greens and blues dominate the pages, bringing to life an idyllic suburban setting.

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind. (Picture book. 4-8)