A retold fable with a sibling spin that’s full of toddler appeal but tough to read aloud.
A young sparrow learns the dangers of crying wolf while also adjusting to the idea of becoming a big brother in Dantes’ second (The Little Sparrow Named Too, 2013) brightly illustrated picture book.
Too isn’t too sure about the idea of his family changing. He doesn’t understand why he suddenly has new responsibilities—instead of getting to spend his time playing—until his mother explains that it’s a big brother’s job to look out for his younger sibling. But egg sitting is boring, and Too soon develops a plan: He’ll cry out that there’s something wrong with the egg and wait for his mother to fly home. As in the Aesop fable the story is named for, eventually, no one comes when Too cries. When Too realizes the egg has actually vanished, he panics, and when he discovers his mother has the egg after all, he feels relieved, guilty and then protective of his soon-to-be little sibling. Too, with his sassy mohawk and hip-hop clothes, is a charming protagonist. The prose rhymes but has an uneven meter throughout, making read-alouds a challenge. (Some say it comes with the storks / Others with the bees first walks.”) The brightly colored, kid-friendly illustrations have definite toddler appeal, and discussing how to get ready for a new sibling is a perfect topic for this age group. The illustrations do lead to some questions, though: Why is Too, dressed as a knight, fighting off a lizard, dressed in hip-garb, to protect the egg? Toddlers will share Too’s genuine worry when the egg goes missing.
A retold fable with a sibling spin that’s full of toddler appeal but tough to read aloud.Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2013
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Playroom Books Limited
Review Posted Online: Dec. 9, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Essential.
A guidebook for taking action against racism.
The clear title and bold, colorful illustrations will immediately draw attention to this book, designed to guide each reader on a personal journey to work to dismantle racism. In the author’s note, Jewell begins with explanations about word choice, including the use of the terms “folx,” because it is gender neutral, and “global majority,” noting that marginalized communities of color are actually the majority in the world. She also chooses to capitalize Black, Brown, and Indigenous as a way of centering these communities’ voices; "white" is not capitalized. Organized in four sections—identity, history, taking action, and working in solidarity—each chapter builds on the lessons of the previous section. Underlined words are defined in the glossary, but Jewell unpacks concepts around race in an accessible way, bringing attention to common misunderstandings. Activities are included at the end of each chapter; they are effective, prompting both self-reflection and action steps from readers. The activities are designed to not be written inside the actual book; instead Jewell invites readers to find a special notebook and favorite pen and use that throughout. Combining the disruption of common fallacies, spotlights on change makers, the author’s personal reflections, and a call to action, this powerful book has something for all young people no matter what stage they are at in terms of awareness or activism.
Essential. (author’s note, further reading, glossary, select bibliography) (Nonfiction. 10-18)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7112-4521-1
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
PROFILES
An authentic and moving time capsule of middle school angst, trauma, and joy.
Through the author’s own childhood diary entries, a seventh grader details her inner life before and after 9/11.
Alyssa’s diary entries start in September 2000, in the first week of her seventh grade year. She’s 11 and dealing with typical preteen concerns—popularity and anxiety about grades—along with other things more particular to her own life. She’s shuffling between Queens and Manhattan to share time between her divorced parents and struggling with thick facial hair and classmates who make her feel like she’s “not a whole person” due to her mixed White and Puerto Rican heritage. Alyssa is endlessly earnest and awkward as she works up the courage to talk to her crush, Alejandro; gushes about her dreams of becoming a shoe designer; and tries to solve her burgeoning unibrow problem. The diaries also have a darker side, as a sense of impending doom builds as the entries approach 9/11, especially because Alyssa’s father works in finance in the World Trade Center. As a number of the diary entries are taken directly from the author’s originals, they effortlessly capture the loud, confusing feelings middle school brings out. The artwork, in its muted but effective periwinkle tones, lends a satisfying layer to the diary’s accessible and delightful format.
An authentic and moving time capsule of middle school angst, trauma, and joy. (author's note) (Graphic memoir. 8-13)Pub Date: Aug. 17, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-77427-9
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
