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DOMINO'S TREE HOUSE

Name: DOMINO'S TREE HOUSE
Author: Dawn Patitucci
ISBN: 9781546002994

by Dawn Patitucci ; illustrated by Francisco Fonseca ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 23, 2023

A strong conversation starter that will stay with children long after the book is closed.

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A boy’s lofty plans lift him higher than he ever thought possible.

Domino, a youngster with light skin and a shock of brown hair, lies in the grass. He sees the tree and its leaves, but he wants more. So he builds a treehouse but still feels unsatisfied. So he builds a “cozy tree cottage” (connected to the treehouse via a staircase). It’s still not enough. So Domino builds even more additions: a “magnificent tree mansion,” a “majestic tree castle,” and at the very top, a “tree skyscraper.” The skyscraper happens to have a garden rooftop with a tree. Which, of course, needs a treehouse. Thus starts a madcap construction pattern that Domino repeats, lifting him higher and higher into the atmosphere. Will this teetering, gravity-defying tower ever be enough? After reaching the cold, lonely moon, Domino returns home with an enlightened consciousness, grateful for the grass and tree that started it all. Though this tale takes on a complex theme—the fine line between ambition and greed—the warm jewel tones and outlandishness of the premise (building houses upon houses) make it appealing and understandable to a young audience. It’s also likely to have kids discussing the protagonist’s choices and what it means to appreciate what we have. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A strong conversation starter that will stay with children long after the book is closed. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: May 23, 2023

ISBN: 9781546002994

Page Count: 32

Publisher: WorthyKids/Ideals

Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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JUST BECAUSE

by Matthew McConaughey illustrated by Renée Kurilla ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 12, 2023

Charming and thought-provoking proof that we all contain multitudes.

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Oscar winner McConaughey offers intriguing life observations.

The series of pithy, wry comments, each starting with the phrase “Just because,” makes clear that each of us is a mass of contradictions: “Just because we’re friends, / doesn’t mean you can’t burn me. / Just because I’m stubborn, / doesn’t mean that you can’t turn me.” Witty, digitally rendered vignettes portray youngsters diverse in terms of race and ability (occasionally with pets looking on) dealing with everything from friendship drama to a nerve-wracking footrace. “Just because I’m dirty, / doesn’t mean I can’t get clean” is paired with an image of a youngster taking a bath while another character (possibly an older sibling) sits nearby, smiling. “Just because you’re nice, / doesn’t mean you can’t get mean” depicts the older one berating the younger one for tracking mud into the house. The artwork effectively brings to life the succinct, rhyming text and will help readers make sense of it. Perhaps, after studying the illustrations and gaining further insight into the comments, kids will reread and reflect upon them further. The final page unites the characters from earlier pages with a reassuring message for readers: “Just because the sun has set, / doesn’t mean it will not rise. / Because every day is a gift, / each one a new surprise. BELIEVE IT.” As a follow-up, readers should be encouraged to make their own suggestions to complete the titular phrase. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Charming and thought-provoking proof that we all contain multitudes. (Picture book. 5-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023

ISBN: 9780593622032

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)