Those who never tire of the iconic text will delight in this classy interpretation.
The classic Christmas poem is set to old-fashioned illustrations.
A snow-covered village in tones of blue, with snow still falling, warm yellow lights glowing, and smoke drifting from brick chimneys, centers a snowman smiling up to the sky, where a reindeer’s antler pokes onto the page. Each spread illustrates a set of rhyming verses set against a white background: the mice sleeping, the stockings hung by the chimney, the children and mamma, all White, asleep in bed. When “out on the lawn / there arose such a clatter,” a person in a nightcap runs to the window, then gapes out at the magical reindeer-led sleigh several houses away, lit with small dots of yellow in the blue-toned snowy night. A close-up of the reindeer in midair and an active Santa (also White) driving them gives way to a bird’s-eye view of the reindeer landing on the rooftop of the narrator’s brick residence. For four spreads, St. Nicholas is in the house, stuffing stockings, smoking his pipe, and winking at the narrator. As he flies off with a trail of golden sparkling light, his call of “Happy Christmas to all, / and to all a good night!” is set in large italic type, and the narrator stands outside with a candle, waving. For those who love the poem’s old-fashioned feeling, these illustrations perfectly match the magical, nostalgic tone of the text.
Those who never tire of the iconic text will delight in this classy interpretation. (Picture book. 4-9)Pub Date: Sept. 14, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5362-2285-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A charming exploration of children’s special relationship with nature.
The story of a young Black boy who “fell in love with a field.”
The book opens with a peaceful scene of Emile sitting in a field overrun with wildflowers of various colors. This is his favorite haunt, where he and his little black dog spend countless hours undisturbed, daydreaming and communing with blossoms and insects. Emile—who often whispers lovingly to the field and regards it as a sentient companion—reflects on all the things the field will never get to experience. Although the field knows the four seasons and “how many stars / there were / and just how far,” it will never get to see the sea and skyscrapers. When winter comes and snow covers the field, Emile worries, wondering where the field goes when it disappears. And when some noisy children invade the field to sled and build snowpals, Emile hates that he has to share his beloved sanctuary, until his dad teaches him that love is not about possession but appreciation. Although some readers may pause at the unconventional punctuation, Young’s gentle, sparely worded narrative endearingly captures the animistic, magical thinking of children and the joy of tranquil childhood hours spent in nature. The impressionistic, atmospheric artwork—rendered in watercolor and ink—underscores the dreamy, spontaneous nature of Emile’s outdoor adventures and features open compositions that create a sense of expansiveness. All characters present Black except one White background character.
A charming exploration of children’s special relationship with nature. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: March 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-984850-42-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Make Me a World
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2022
A pinktypical bit of problem-solving with a holiday theme.
Pinkalicious turns a “Secret Snowman” gift from fashion disaster to fab in this easy reader outing.
Joining a recent spate of holiday celebrations that never actually mention a specific holiday, the episode begins when Pinkalicious pulls classmate Molly’s name from the bowl at school and decides to knit her a “pinkamazing” sweater. Unfortunately, the project is beyond Pinkalicious’ knitting powers, and the finished result is a sad mess. What to do? Enter Dad, on his way to an “ugly holiday sweater party” at work…and the next day Molly is delightedly modeling a sweater so encrusted with garland, pompoms, candy, and small ornaments that the ragged original is transformed. In no time Pinkalicious is teaching the entire class, including Ms. Penny, the teacher, how to knit and decorate holiday scarves and other small projects because: “ ’Tis the season to make everything sparklerrific!” In similarly oblique visual nods to certain December festivities, the sedate, finely detailed illustrations feature a gaudy evergreen on Dad’s sweater and a brown-skinned classmate knitting, and then rocking, a red, green, and black scarf. Pinkalicious presents as White (as do Ms. Penny, Mom, Dad, and brother Peter), Molly presents as Black, and the class is racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A pinktypical bit of problem-solving with a holiday theme. (Early reader. 5-7)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-06-300388-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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