An exquisitely illustrated story that depicts a little-known piece of history.
“There once was a girl who was given no name,” this picture book opens.
Rather than claiming his infant daughter and giving her a name, a father abandons her in a marketplace. An elderly slave from Athens brings her home and raises her with the rest of the household slaves. Known as the Corinthian girl, she grows tall, shy, and strong. One day the master of the house, an Olympic athlete, spots his son playing with the girl. He is struck by her balance and speed and forms a plan. He’s determined to have her compete in the Heraean Games, an athletic contest for girls and women. With the spirit of a Spartan, she trains day and night, becoming faster, quicker, and stronger. When she finally competes, her strength and determination push her ahead of everyone, and all those gathered cheer. She brings such honor to her master that he names her Chloris and adopts her as his daughter. This fictionalized tale of a Heraean athlete celebrates a young girl’s athletic ability while authentically detailing what her life may have been like. Balit’s double-page watercolor illustrations use intricate patterns, stylized figuring, and bold colors to enhance the narrative and successfully immerse readers in ancient Greek life. A closing note details the origins of the Heraean Games as reported by Greek writer Pausanias while also acknowledging the scant written record. All characters present White. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An exquisitely illustrated story that depicts a little-known piece of history. (Historical fiction. 5-8)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-913074-72-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Otter-Barry
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An absolute pleasure.
A small dog takes a huge leap.
True to her name, sled dog puppy Leap spends her days bounding happily through blankets of freshly fallen snow, bouncily biding her time until she, too, can suit up for a run with the team. Each dog brings a different, equally essential skill to the work of mushing, and as too-young Leap greets the pack when they return from their daily hike, she worries—what if she lacks a special talent of her own when it’s her time to race? But when the much-anticipated day arrives and Leap clips in for her rookie run, her feet tippity-tap excitedly, any trace of self-doubt eclipsed by her irrepressible enthusiasm. With their new addition in tow, the other dogs take off, buoyed as ever by a confidence borne from specialized expertise; they confront obstacles head-on, sailing easily along icy Northwoods terrain. That is until the team encounters a seemingly insurmountable hurdle, one that only their greenest member can clear. Dogsled racer Braverman’s sweet narrative builds a satisfying case for individuality as a community asset, celebrating both the value of teamwork and the discrete strengths that comprise it. Savvy readers will take pride in predicting Leap’s unique contribution, while canine lovers will delight in the revelation that the pups depicted are all real-life sled dogs working in northern Wisconsin. When’s illustrations are equal parts spellbinding and precious, deftly balancing compositional simplicity with masterful color work. The result is peerless.
An absolute pleasure. (author’s note) (Picture book. 6-9)Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2025
ISBN: 9780063238053
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
It’s a slam dunk
Lucy discovers that the way to learn to play basketball is with friends on a neighborhood court.
Lucy loves playing in the park, and one day she and her friends join their friend Ava and her cousin in their new favorite sport: basketball. Pro player Jermaine, aka “Coach J,” teaches all the basics—footwork, quick passes, dribbling, and a variety of shots. But he also encourages the players to keep trying when they miss, stresses the value of teamwork, and focuses on fun as they learn and later play a practice game. At the end of the workout, Coach J invites the young players to watch him and his team play. Written in loose rhyming couplets, the text has many near rhymes and inconsistent meter. While the storyline is predictable, the book is a good introduction to basketball terms, and young basketball players and fans will appreciate reading about themselves. Vivid silhouetted figures against a white background portray male and female players of several races; Lucy herself is white while Ava and Coach J are black. One young player competes from a wheelchair. A half page of backmatter explains the history of basketball, the NBA and its players, and wheelchair basketball, and one entry also explains the three-on-three basketball that the children play. The book publishes in a simultaneous French edition translated by Rachel Martinez.
It’s a slam dunk . (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4598-1697-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2019
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