A lively introduction to some musical instruments.
As a band director instructs the new band members on the different instruments they can play, he must also contend with a very enthusiastic drummer.
A group of excited-looking children is joining the band today. Mr. V, the band director, tells them “There is a perfect instrument for everyone. Let’s find yours!” First up, the clarinet. After telling the children about the different characteristics of the instrument, he invites one to try it out. But instead, all sounds are drowned out by a BOOM, BOOM, BOOM coming from Felicity on the bass drum. And so it proceeds as the other instruments are presented—trumpet, oboe, flute, saxophone, and trombone. Each one is drowned out by Felicity’s enthusiastic BOOM, BOOM, BOOM on the drum. The droll illustrations depict the mood of the band director going from animation to despair, but an end is in sight (or is it?) when an instrument with an even louder sound takes over. Be careful what you wish for! There is an irrepressible feeling of energy in the illustrations that at times just jumps across the gutter; it’s further emphasized by playful and colorful typography. As a bonus, readers learn that each child, and their chosen instrument, is based on a real musician, as detailed in the backmatter; Mr. V is the author’s own father, and Felicity is the author herself. Both Mr. V and Felicity present White, and the other characters in the book represent different ethnicities and places of origin. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11.5-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 23.2% of actual size.)
A lively introduction to some musical instruments. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-06-249437-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
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
Not astonishingly go-out-and-buy-it-at-graduation inspirational, but all it takes is one seed of change to be planted.
Imagination soars—quite literally—when a little girl follows her own set of rules.
Every year Oak Hill School has a go-kart race called the Going Places contest. Students are given identical go-kart kits with a precise set of instructions. And of course, every single kart ends up exactly the same. Every one, that is, except Maya’s. Maya is a dreamy artist, and she would rather sketch birds in her backyard than get caught up in the competition. When she finally does start working, she uses the parts in the go-kart box but creates something completely different. No one ever said it had to be a go-kart. Maya’s creative thinking inspires Rafael, her neighbor (and the most enthusiastic Going Places contestant), to ask to team up. The instructions never say they couldn’t work together, either! An ode to creativity and individuality to be sure, but the Reynolds brothers are also taking a swipe at modern education: Endless repetition and following instructions without question create a culture of conformity. Hopefully now, readers will see infinite possibility every time the system hands them an identical go-kart box.
Not astonishingly go-out-and-buy-it-at-graduation inspirational, but all it takes is one seed of change to be planted. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-6608-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
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