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TASTING WORDS

Name: TASTING WORDS
Author: Dezh Azaad
ISBN: 9780593700051

by Dezh Azaad & Nelly Buchet ; illustrated by Sara Palacios ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 29, 2026

A bighearted, nuanced, and original tale about assimilation and the universal language of food.

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A child facilitates friendship between a relative and another older woman, neither of whom speaks the other’s language.

Narrator Ava’s family has recently emigrated to an English-speaking country, and Ava finds learning the language difficult. Ava eventually becomes bilingual (as do the child’s parents), but Bibi (the youngster’s grandmother) doesn’t, and Ava worries that “without the new language, she will be lonely.” At school, Ava makes a new friend, Lucie, whose French grandmother Mémé is the chef at the family’s restaurant, and she gives Ava some food to take home to “your grand-mère.” Bibi is appreciative but knows that she can’t write Mémé a thank-you note that the other woman could understand. So she reciprocates by sharing some of her own cooking with Mémé, with Ava as go-between; the elders eventually meet and become fast friends. Azaad and Buchet’s story is as rich as one of Bibi’s (or Mémé’s) dishes: It touches on the challenges and rewards of learning a new language, the excitement of making a new friend, the importance of showing gratitude, and the satisfaction of facilitating someone else’s happiness. Palacios’ illustrations are glorious, capturing the narrative's emotional subtleties in cut-paper and Photoshop art dominated by harvest reds, browns, and yellows. Most characters are brown-skinned; an authors’ note suggests that Ava’s family is of Persian descent.

A bighearted, nuanced, and original tale about assimilation and the universal language of food. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026

ISBN: 9780593700051

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HEALTH & DAILY LIVING

- BOOK REVIEW
SOUR CHERRIES
by Dezh Azaad ; illustrated by Nan Cao

- BOOK REVIEW
THE CARPET
by Dezh Azaad ; illustrated by Nan Cao

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE'S A BEACH IN MY BEDROOM
by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson

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I GOT YOU

by Derrick Barnes ; illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2025

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind.

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When Mom and Dad bring baby Rasheed home for the first time, it’s love at first sight for big brother Anthony.

As the boys grow, Anthony teaches his little sibling how to build a tower with blocks (and how to knock it down with a loud “WHOP!!!”), how to ride a bike, and even how to fly (through a well-timed leap from the swings). When thunder and lightning wake them both one night, Anthony assuages Rasheed’s fears with the book’s titular refrain: “I got you.” But one day Anthony goes for a bike ride with his friends, leaving Rasheed alone and hurt. That night, Anthony explains that while he may spend time with his peers, his bond with Rasheed is unbreakable. And as the book comes to a close, with Mom and Dad introducing the boys to their new little sibling, Anthony leaves Rasheed with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to be a supportive big brother himself. Narrated by Rasheed, Barnes’ text is elegant in its simplicity, loving yet never saccharine, and always emotionally honest. Using varied perspectives, Knight-Justice’s richly hued, collagelike digital illustrations combine a patchwork of textures and patterns, immersing readers in this affectionate Black family’s world. Greens and blues dominate the pages, bringing to life an idyllic suburban setting.

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind. (Picture book. 4-8)