McLean and Stone, Trinidad-born residents of Toronto, introduce Carnival in an artistically attractive picture book. But the continuity of events in this exciting, pre-Lent festival is sacrificed to the alphabetical format, and the alliterative text is sometimes awkward. McLean presents information in a brief text, introduction, and endnotes, but questions arise that are not always answered. For example, the text for J says, “Jab Molassi (a celebrant) jump up J’ouvert morning before the judges.” While “J’ouvert” is explained in the note, knowledge of the fact that “jump up” means going up on stage is assumed. And the note for X discusses the nature of the dance, but never connects it to the “Xante style” mentioned in the text. Pen and ink and watercolor-like paintings enclosed by yellow framing are alive with vibrant tropical colors. They portray bands, dancers, singers, food, and exotic costumes in a Caribbean setting, but curiously show few children as participants, even in the “Kiddies Carnival” picture. Adding fun, they contain hidden letters and objects that begin with each letter, but many of the words are beyond the experience of a picture book audience unfamiliar with Carnival. The letters are presented in both upper and lower case in squares at either end of the text. This book can be paired with Lynn Joseph’s Jump Up Time: A Trinidad Carnival Story (1998), but first set the stage by reading George Ancona’s stunning photo essay, Carnaval (not reviewed), which is more child-focused and provides a clearer sequence of events from the months of preparation through the days of celebration. (Picture book. 5-9)
Pub Date: March 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-88776-486-X
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2000
BOOK REVIEW
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists.
How to raise money for a coveted poster: put your friends to work!
John, founder of the FUBU fashion line and a Shark Tank venture capitalist, offers a self-referential blueprint for financial success. Having only half of the $10 he needs for a Minka J poster, Daymond forks over $1 to buy a plain T-shirt, paints a picture of the pop star on it, sells it for $5, and uses all of his cash to buy nine more shirts. Then he recruits three friends to decorate them with his design and help sell them for an unspecified amount (from a conveniently free and empty street-fair booth) until they’re gone. The enterprising entrepreneur reimburses himself for the shirts and splits the remaining proceeds, which leaves him with enough for that poster as well as a “brand-new business book,” while his friends express other fiscal strategies: saving their share, spending it all on new art supplies, or donating part and buying a (math) book with the rest. (In a closing summation, the author also suggests investing in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrency.) Though Miles cranks up the visual energy in her sparsely detailed illustrations by incorporating bright colors and lots of greenbacks, the actual advice feels a bit vague. Daymond is Black; most of the cast are people of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists. (Picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-56727-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
Quietly contemplative and thoroughly lovely.
A child finds adventure and a change of perspective on a dreary day.
Clouds cover everything in a palette of unending gray, creating a sense of ennui and gloom. A child stands alone, head down, feeling as gray as the day, and decides to ride through town on an old bike. Pops of color throughout the grayscale illustrations go unnoticed—there are yellow leaves scattered about, and the parking lot is filled with bright yellow buses, but this child, who has skin the grayish white of the page, sees only the empty playground, creaky swings, a sad merry-go-round, and lonely seesaws. But look—there’s a narrow winding path just beyond the fence, something to explore. There are things to be noticed, leaves to be crunched, and discoveries to be made. Imagination takes over, along with senses of wonderment and calm, as the child watches a large blue bird fly over the area. The ride home is quite different, joyful and filled with color previously ignored, reaffirming the change in the rider’s outlook. The descriptive, spare text filled with imagery and onomatopoeia is well aligned with well-rendered art highlighting all the colors that brighten the not-so-gray day and allowing readers to see what the protagonist struggles to understand, that “anything can happen…on a gray day.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Quietly contemplative and thoroughly lovely. (Picture book. 5-9)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781797210896
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
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