Fun and frenetic; a lively look at imaginative play in a real-world setting.
In this picture-book sequel, a young girl learns to channel her chaotic fort-building obsession into something more enduring.
Piper, a dark-haired, honey beige-skinned elementary schooler, isn’t allowed to revamp her bedroom, but has built 32 play forts throughout the summer. These have tended toward an uneasy balance of wild imagination and architectural instability—a pattern soon to be replicated. Piper puts her foot through her 33rd fort (cardboard box-based). Her 34th spills over from bedroom to kitchen, causing parental conniptions. Her 35th incorporates the dining table and so has to be dismantled at dinner time. Drained of energy and ideas, Piper retreats to her boring old bedroom—and then has a brainstorm. She asks her dad for an outside playhouse, and they build a treehouse together (“We used our tool belts every Saturday for two months”). Cino narrates with straightforward prose from Piper’s perspective, offering occasional emphases in bold and deftly capturing both the buoyant joy and the flitting, insular logic of an early elementary schooler. Peres illustrates in a busy, big-eyed cartoon style across single- and two-page spreads. These very much embrace the madcap fort-building spirit, layering commandeered household items and a menagerie of stuffed toys (plus Gary the pet guinea pig) on hazy, autumnal-hued backdrops. In Piper, young readers will discover a memorable, gung-ho, and upbeat protagonist, tellingly aware of her parents’ likely reactions—if blissfully unmindful of them.
Fun and frenetic; a lively look at imaginative play in a real-world setting.Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2025
ISBN: 9798990742222
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Whimspire Books
Review Posted Online: July 8, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind.
When Mom and Dad bring baby Rasheed home for the first time, it’s love at first sight for big brother Anthony.
As the boys grow, Anthony teaches his little sibling how to build a tower with blocks (and how to knock it down with a loud “WHOP!!!”), how to ride a bike, and even how to fly (through a well-timed leap from the swings). When thunder and lightning wake them both one night, Anthony assuages Rasheed’s fears with the book’s titular refrain: “I got you.” But one day Anthony goes for a bike ride with his friends, leaving Rasheed alone and hurt. That night, Anthony explains that while he may spend time with his peers, his bond with Rasheed is unbreakable. And as the book comes to a close, with Mom and Dad introducing the boys to their new little sibling, Anthony leaves Rasheed with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to be a supportive big brother himself. Narrated by Rasheed, Barnes’ text is elegant in its simplicity, loving yet never saccharine, and always emotionally honest. Using varied perspectives, Knight-Justice’s richly hued, collagelike digital illustrations combine a patchwork of textures and patterns, immersing readers in this affectionate Black family’s world. Greens and blues dominate the pages, bringing to life an idyllic suburban setting.
Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9780593111451
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
