A positive if formulaic volume of lessons and affirmations for young readers.
Eight young girls weather the many struggles of elementary school in Meyer’s chapter book.
This brief and upbeat story follows eight schoolgirls navigating a variety of relatable issues for their age group, including cultivating individuality, following dreams, and combating bullying. When Caroline’s brother, Jack, injures himself in a skateboarding accident, Caroline realizes that everyone she usually hangs out with are her brother’s friends—not hers. Camila is a Mexican-American girl who loves kids so much she dreams of being a teacher; when her next-door neighbors ask her to babysit their toddler, Riley, she agrees, eager for practice. Ember confronts body image issues by donating to and connecting with a classmate whose home was lost in a fire. Jasmine is a Black girl who loves to write and is urged by her teacher to enter a writing competition. Natalie’s bid for class president at her elementary school ends up painting a target on her back for mean girl Megan. The last three chapters hit similar beats as Zara strikes a balance between chasing her dreams of becoming a basketball player and making time for schoolwork and friends, Chloe gathers the courage to speak up when she witnesses someone being mean to a friend, and Ana gives reluctant bully Amelia a chance to redeem herself (“There’s always a way to make things better”). Overall, Meyer’s clear writing pairs well with the cute black-and-white illustrations by Hrynenko interspersed throughout the text. The summary of each section’s core message at the end of each chapter is a helpful tool for fledgling readers who might not have strong analytical skills yet. Some of the stories are stronger than others, but they all feel of a piece, with some characters even appearing in other characters’ chapters.
A positive if formulaic volume of lessons and affirmations for young readers.Pub Date: Nov. 13, 2023
ISBN: 9788367973113
Page Count: 91
Publisher: LittleBigPage
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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