A pleasant celebration of father-and-son love.
Bertie the beagle wants to grow up to be a builder, just like his dad.
In an ingenuous text, Bertie relates his day at school, which is not 100 percent terrific. It starts well, when his teacher (a poodle in fashionable purple dress and heels) tells the class they are “going to be builders,” but one of Bertie’s classmates tracks green footprints across his picture of a crane, and then he trips at lunch. Things look up after lunch, since he can spot Daddy in his crane from the top of the jungle gym, and then the class puts together “an enormous tower.” It turns out that Daddy’s day wasn’t perfect either: one of his co-workers walked across the fresh cement of his “brand new floor,” and then he tripped at lunch, too. But he spotted Bertie from his crane, which made him feel better. They both agree that the best part of their day is being together. Alexander’s watercolors depict no mommy, and it’s nice to see this capable, loving single dad. Bertie’s class is nicely diverse, counting terriers of several sorts as well as retrievers and poodles in its numbers. Children will appreciate the parallels in Bertie’s and Daddy’s days as well as the acknowledgment that everyone’s days can have ups and downs.
A pleasant celebration of father-and-son love. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 12, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0196-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2016
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.
Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250393975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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