An important story honoring inclusion, anti-stereotyping, and empathy.
A schoolteacher inspires her students in Harris’ picture book.
Ms. Freckle keeps a secret from her students: Sometimes, she makes involuntary noises. She worries if it happens in class students will make fun of her. One day, she quacks loudly and wonders, “Should she pretend like nothing happened, or…explain?” Embarrassed, Ms. Freckle is relieved that her class responds kindly. She says, “Just because I tend to quack does not mean I am a duck! There will be times when my brain tells my mouth to quack but I cannot control it.” She describes how assumptions we make about others are damaging, enabling the class to share their own “Just because” statements. For instance, Lily says, “Just because I am a girl does not mean I am not strong!” and Kira says, “Just because I use a wheelchair does not mean I can’t play.” Others experiences shared include facing judgement for being a slow reader, having divorced parents, wearing glasses, and more. The importance of acceptance is warmly and effectively portrayed. The students’ examples and Ms. Freckle’s positivity will empower readers to recognize similar instances in their own lives. Feather’s lively, computer-generated illustrations depict the classroom setting, including many details, like bookshelves, wall posters, chalkboards, and more. Ms. Freckle has dark skin, dark hair, and freckles. The classroom includes White, Black, and Asian students. The book provides a worksheet with “Just because” statements for readers to complete.
An important story honoring inclusion, anti-stereotyping, and empathy.Pub Date: April 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-73315-242-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Purple Diamond Press
Review Posted Online: Nov. 30, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists.
How to raise money for a coveted poster: put your friends to work!
John, founder of the FUBU fashion line and a Shark Tank venture capitalist, offers a self-referential blueprint for financial success. Having only half of the $10 he needs for a Minka J poster, Daymond forks over $1 to buy a plain T-shirt, paints a picture of the pop star on it, sells it for $5, and uses all of his cash to buy nine more shirts. Then he recruits three friends to decorate them with his design and help sell them for an unspecified amount (from a conveniently free and empty street-fair booth) until they’re gone. The enterprising entrepreneur reimburses himself for the shirts and splits the remaining proceeds, which leaves him with enough for that poster as well as a “brand-new business book,” while his friends express other fiscal strategies: saving their share, spending it all on new art supplies, or donating part and buying a (math) book with the rest. (In a closing summation, the author also suggests investing in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrency.) Though Miles cranks up the visual energy in her sparsely detailed illustrations by incorporating bright colors and lots of greenbacks, the actual advice feels a bit vague. Daymond is Black; most of the cast are people of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists. (Picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-56727-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
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