The very air around Toby seems to vibrate, and it's a great relief when he leaves the parachute behind; readers know...
A young boy learns to let go of the object that makes him feel safest in a picture book that effectively skews perspective to great effect (and great heights).
Wild-haired, fair-skinned, barefoot Toby wears an orange parachute pack all the time, whether he's climbing down from his enormously tall bunk bed or braving a huge elephant at the zoo. As with a security blanket, Toby's parachute isn't just a survival mechanism in case of a calamitous fall, but a catchall object to fight everyday fears. It's only when Toby has to put the parachute to use to save his cat that he begins to learn to work through scary situations alone. The text is effectively sparse, letting airy digital illustrations work their magic, turning Toby's fears into stretched, depth-filled fantasies of a bed above the clouds and an untethered treehouse floating toward space. An effective mix of variously proportioned panels and double-page spreads, the images are a delight of tension, as thrilling as they are scary when considered from Toby's point of view. If the message, of leaving a childhood object behind to grow up, is unremarkable, the words and pictures still work wonders, giving the child's panic emotional weight and visual flair at the same time.
The very air around Toby seems to vibrate, and it's a great relief when he leaves the parachute behind; readers know there'll be plenty more adventures without it. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 11, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5469-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Eerdmans
Review Posted Online: Jan. 8, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
A solid if message-driven conversation starter about the hard parts of learning.
Children realize their dreams one step at a time in this story about growth mindset.
A child crashes and damages a new bicycle on a dark, rainy day. Attempting a wheelie, the novice cyclist falls onto the sidewalk, grimacing, and, having internalized this setback as failure, vows to never ride again but to “walk…forever.” Then the unnamed protagonist happens upon a glowing orb in the forest, a “thought rearranger-er”—a luminous pink fairy called the Magical Yet. This Yet reminds the child of past accomplishments and encourages perseverance. The second-person rhyming couplets remind readers that mistakes are part of learning and that with patience and effort, children can achieve. Readers see the protagonist learn to ride the bike before a flash-forward shows the child as a capable college graduate confidently designing a sleek new bike. This book shines with diversity: racial, ethnic, ability, and gender. The gender-indeterminate protagonist has light brown skin and exuberant curly locks; Amid the bustling secondary cast, one child uses a prosthesis, and another wears hijab. At no point in the text is the Yet defined as a metaphor for a growth mindset; adults reading with younger children will likely need to clarify this abstract lesson. The artwork is powerful and detailed—pay special attention to the endpapers that progress to show the Yet at work.
A solid if message-driven conversation starter about the hard parts of learning. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-368-02562-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion/LBYR
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2020
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