A slight “Little Mermaid”–esque tale with an abrupt, less-than satisfying ending.
What could be more magical than a moonbow?
Mimbi the seal and Kipo the sea turtle hear an amazing and terrifying legend from a storytelling octopus: Any sea creature gazing at the rare glow becomes human! Playing beneath the waves, the young friends are caught unawares by a storm. When they poke their heads through the water, a moonbow stretches overhead. Their miraculous transformations into children include clothing and the ability to speak in the tongue of a kindly white fisherman, who knows the legend and takes them home when he finds them on the beach. They want to return to their former selves, but the only means of accomplishing this, says the fisherman, is to swim beneath a wave of stars. This fable demands a huge suspension of disbelief. Brown glosses over the trauma of the transformation in three sentences. White-presenting Mimbi and black-presenting Kipo somehow understand human behaviors as well as language. Also, two rare phenomena, the moonbow and the wave of stars, conveniently occur within 24 hours. Wimmer seamlessly combines black-and-white sketches with sweet full-color spreads, helping to bridge many of the story’s gaps. The best element isn’t even a character in the story—it’s Mimbi’s triton-grasping mer-king doll. Readers will be charmed by the subtle changes in the mer-king’s expressions. A Spanish-language edition translated by Luis Amavisca will release simultaneously.
A slight “Little Mermaid”–esque tale with an abrupt, less-than satisfying ending. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 5, 2020
ISBN: 978-84-17673-41-3
Page Count: 44
Publisher: NubeOcho
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This warm family story is a splendid showcase for the combined talents of Medina, a Pura Belpré award winner, and Dominguez,...
Abuela is coming to stay with Mia and her parents. But how will they communicate if Mia speaks little Spanish and Abuela, little English? Could it be that a parrot named Mango is the solution?
The measured, evocative text describes how Mia’s español is not good enough to tell Abuela the things a grandmother should know. And Abuela’s English is too poquito to tell Mia all the stories a granddaughter wants to hear. Mia sets out to teach her Abuela English. A red feather Abuela has brought with her to remind her of a wild parrot that roosted in her mango trees back home gives Mia an idea. She and her mother buy a parrot they name Mango. And as Abuela and Mia teach Mango, and each other, to speak both Spanish and English, their “mouths [fill] with things to say.” The accompanying illustrations are charmingly executed in ink, gouache, and marker, “with a sprinkling of digital magic.” They depict a cheery urban neighborhood and a comfortable, small apartment. Readers from multigenerational immigrant families will recognize the all-too-familiar language barrier. They will also cheer for the warm and loving relationship between Abuela and Mia, which is evident in both text and illustrations even as the characters struggle to understand each other. A Spanish-language edition, Mango, Abuela, y yo, gracefully translated by Teresa Mlawer, publishes simultaneously.
This warm family story is a splendid showcase for the combined talents of Medina, a Pura Belpré award winner, and Dominguez, an honoree. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6900-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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