Michael’s mommy gently introduces him to his new baby brother, first as a “bump” in her tummy, later at the hospital, where he and the baby “exchange” presents, and finally at home, where Michael helps with bathing and introduces his new brother to friends and extended family. The condescending text and improbable dialogue (“I thought you might like to give Daniel the present you chose to welcome him into the world,” says Michael’s dad) are unlikely to appeal to young readers. Flat, bright illustrations are set on extensive white space. Cartoon-like, they emphasize eyes and smiles, showing happy family scenes but adding little to the story. Other titles published this year in the Helping Hands series include Ashley Learns About Strangers (ISBN: 978-1-4027-7393-8), Matthew and the Bullies (ISBN: 978-1-4027-7391-4) and Emily’s First Day at School (ISBN: 978-1-4027-7392-1). (Eight more have appeared in Great Britain.) Designed for parents and children to read together, each title includes “Ten Helpful Hints,” well-meant but unremarkable advice from a British child psychologist as backmatter. The series is a reminder that celebrity does not necessarily provide the training ground for successful writing for children. (Picture book. 4-7)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4027-7390-7
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2010
Imaginative, irreverent, improvisational fun in kindergarten: Danbi shares a burst of “sweet rain,” complete with a rainbow.
All together now: Food, dance, and music combine for magic that transcends language barriers.
The charming cover of this read-aloud captures the Korean protagonist in a commanding pose, balanced on tiptoes, ready to perform. Still, Danbi feels anxious: “On the first day of my new school in America, my heart beat: Boom. Boom.” Her palpable turmoil builds as she tries unfamiliar activities, yet, by lunchtime, her nervous heartbeat evolves into drum rolls cueing Danbi’s creative impulses. Her classmates’ singular reaction to her traditional Korean lunch—“Wow!”—signals the transformative powers of Danbi’s favorite foods, exquisitely presented in tiered containers: “Yams in honey, crystal dumplings…rainbow drops, and half-moon rice cakes dipped in sweet sesame!” Classmates’ attempts to use chopsticks become comical antics; soon, Danbi is leading everyone through recess in spontaneous, triumphant pageantry. Enchanting illustrations dazzle—particularly through the diverse characters’ hair and facial expressions that detail individuals’ unique traits while celebrating the entire cohort. According to the author’s note, the story is inspired by the creator’s own “bicultural identity,” and the endpapers encapsulate an immigrant child’s journey: the poignant departure and the prosaic pleasures of new friends will resonate with readers of all ages.
Imaginative, irreverent, improvisational fun in kindergarten: Danbi shares a burst of “sweet rain,” complete with a rainbow. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-451-47889-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
A cute, Halloween-y take on the old dare-to-be-you moral.
What could be worse for a house than to be haunted? Unless….
“There was a house on a hill, and that house was worried.” Overgrown with vines and frequented by a curious black cat, the abandoned abode fears that she will remain unoccupied because of her eerie countenance. Supplying the house with rounded, third-story windows and exterior molding that shift to express emotions, Sima takes readers through a tour of the house’s ominous interior. At first, the enchanted homestead tries to suppress her creaky walls, squeaky stairs, and rattling pipes. Despite all efforts to keep “VERY still. And VERY quiet. And VERY calm,” the house comes to find that being a rather creepy residence might actually be fun. The realization dawns on the decrepit dwelling with both relief and joy: “She liked being noisy. Maybe she liked being haunted.” Once the house embraces herself for who she is, the plot moves in a pleasant yet predictable direction: A cheerful family of ghosts loves the house in all her noisy glory and decides to move in. Sima’s lighthearted, cartoony style and cozy palette disarm the book of any frightening elements. The gentle, upbeat vibe makes it a fair choice to remind kids that their differences from others are the key to their belonging. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A cute, Halloween-y take on the old dare-to-be-you moral. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 20, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5344-4170-5
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
PERSPECTIVES
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