A quietly triumphant intergenerational chase story.
An elderly fisherwoman and a young child join forces in hopes of making a great catch.
“The news spread like wind through the trees: The Big One was close to shore.” The townspeople have been trying to land the elusive fish (the type is never stated) for years. When young Marina—“the smallest of the town’s children”—asks Nana (“the oldest of the town’s elders”) if she can join her in her pursuit, Nana agrees, but the other fisherfolk are dismissive: “Are you sure you have the grit and the gumption?” Undeterred, the duo set off in Nana’s little boat. Nana steers while Marina scouts. Across their multiday mission (they do go home at night), the pair swap out their insufficiently seductive bait and try a new fishing spot, and their dedication leads them to a sea creature who outshines the Big One. Young readers will pick up on the book’s message: Achieving greatness isn’t dependent on age or physical might. Winningly, the book seems to be narrated by an old salt (“There was nary a nibble on their rose-ripe peach”). As befits a tale betraying no evidence of the digital age, Yim takes an analog approach to her art. Her dainty pastel-and-pencil illustrations, some of them frame-worthy, capture village and nautical details; collaboratively, the images offer a front-row seat to the fishing life. The protagonists are tan-skinned; their community is diverse.
A quietly triumphant intergenerational chase story. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 30, 2026
ISBN: 9798217028320
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House Studio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2026
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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