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THE CHALK RAINBOW

Name: THE CHALK RAINBOW
Author: Deborah Kelly
ISBN: 978-1-925335-45-3

by Deborah Kelly ; illustrated by Gwynneth Jones ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2017

A trifle loosely rendered but clever and perceptive.

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A child finds an imaginative way to help her autistic little brother cope with his aversion to an all too common hue.

“My brother Zane is different to other kids,” explains the British narrator: he has a made-up language; really likes to line things up; and most of all, “he hates the colour black.” This not only leads him to avoid the “soft fall” at the playground (some sort of padding, to judge from the illustrations), but also to refuse to cross any blacktopped street or driveway and to fall into a furious tantrum if his clueless parents try to force the issue. But he happily joins his sister in drawing a chalk rainbow on the porch—a rainbow that extends down the sidewalk and, thanks to the thick smears of colored chalk on their hands, just keeps going all the way across the street to the playground and back. “Soon there are rainbows everywhere!” Though the oversized heads and soft-focus features of this white family lend a generic air to the episode, the arcs of imaginary rainbow are as bright and present as the actual chalked part, and they convey a buoyant sense of triumph as they lengthen to fill the pictures with light and color. By the closing cuddle, even mom and dad are making rainbow bridges.

A trifle loosely rendered but clever and perceptive. (Picture book. 6-8)

Pub Date: July 1, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-925335-45-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: EK Books

Review Posted Online: May 23, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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JOSÉ AND EL PERRO

by Susan Rose & Silvia López ; illustrated by Gloria Félix ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 25, 2023

Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further.

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A young Latine boy finally gets to rescue the dog of his dreams, but training can be a challenge in two languages.

Like many children, José has been dreaming of having a pet of his own, specifically un perro, a dog. Like any good owner, José promptly begins training his new canine companion but soon realizes his rescue mutt, Feliz, knows only words in English. This is a problem because in José’s home everyone speaks both Spanish and English. José and Feliz must rise to the challenge; fortunately, treats and snuggles are great motivators. The narrative uses Spanish words and phrases throughout (“perros blancos,” “¡Yo quiero este!” “¡Sientate!”), usually with English context clues for understanding. This is complex vocabulary for an early reader, and the shifting in phonics from English to Spanish will be challenging for true beginners; the book is best suited for intermediate to advanced readers in dual-language classrooms or homes. Much like Feliz, however, it is sure to find a loving (and bilingual) home. Cheerful illustrations complement the text, helping readers make sense of the narrative. While José and his mother are darker-skinned, his father and sister are lighter-skinned. (This review has been updated for accuracy.)

Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further. (glossary of Spanish-English words) (Early reader. 6-8)

Pub Date: April 25, 2023

ISBN: 978-0-593-52116-8

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Penguin Workshop

Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
JOSÉ AND FELIZ PLAY FÚTBOL
by Susan Rose & Silvia López ; illustrated by Gloria Félix

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DEAR BEAST

by Dori Hillestad Butler ; illustrated by Kevan Atteberry ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 12, 2020

An effective early chapter book conveyed in a slightly overdone gag.

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Epistolary dispatches from the eternal canine/feline feud.

Simon the cat is angry. He had done a good job taking care of his boy, Andy, but now that Andy’s parents are divorced, a dog named Baxter has moved into Andy’s dad’s house. Simon believes that there isn’t enough room in Andy’s life for two furry friends, so he uses the power of the pen to get Baxter to move out. Inventively for the early-chapter-book format, the story is told in letters written back and forth; Simon’s are impeccably spelled on personalized stationery while Baxter’s spelling slowly improves through the letters he scrawls on scraps of paper. A few other animals make appearances—a puffy-lipped goldfish who for some reason punctuates her letter with “Blub…blub…” seems to be the only female character (cued through stereotypical use of eyelashes and red lipstick), and a mustachioed snail ferries the mail to and fro. White-appearing Andy is seen playing with both animals as a visual background to the text, as is his friend Noah (a dark-skinned child who perhaps should not be nicknamed “N Man”). Cat lovers will appreciate Simon’s prickliness while dog aficionados will likely enjoy Baxter’s obtuse enthusiasm, and all readers will learn about the time and patience it takes to overcome conflict and jealousy with someone you dislike.

An effective early chapter book conveyed in a slightly overdone gag. (Fiction. 6-8)