A glorious look at the often-frustrating nature of family dynamics—and the power of magic.
Imaginative play has never been so out of this world.
Evie, a precocious girl outfitted in a purple wizard’s cap and cape, “believe[s] in all things magic.” With her wand and a little imagination, she can do anything—except manage her rambunctious siblings, Wolfie, Bunnie, and Teddy, so named for the animal costumes they wear. Yearning for some space and quiet, she goes out into the snow but is soon followed by her kin. Looking for an escape, she picks up her wand and transports herself and her siblings to a mesmerizing abyss filled with sea creatures set against colorful textured galaxies of light. Here, the perspective shifts from graphic-style panels to breathtaking upside-down spreads, requiring readers to turn the book around to continue their adventures. After a suspenseful yet ultimately uplifting encounter with a whale and her calf, they all return to their world grateful for each other and their company. Marcero takes full advantage of the picture-book format as she tells the story of the sometimes contentious yet ultimately strong bonds between siblings. Her use of actual images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope, along with watercolors and ink, finished digitally, creates an awe-inspiring world both cosmic and aquatic. Lilting prose and detailed, luminous art make for an adventure readers will eagerly dive into again and again. Evie is light-skinned; her siblings vary in skin tone.
A glorious look at the often-frustrating nature of family dynamics—and the power of magic. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9780593857953
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2025
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
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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