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MAMA BIRD LOST AN EGG

Name: MAMA BIRD LOST AN EGG
Author: Evelyne Fournier
ISBN: 978-2-89802-082-7

by Evelyne Fournier ; illustrated by Chloloula ; translated by Nathaniel Penn ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 22, 2019

This well-intentioned story about pregnancy loss is far from perfect but fills a gap.

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A young swallow comforts his mother after the loss of her egg.

Used to his mother soothing him when he’s sad, Gabriel is heartbroken to discover Mommy Swallow crying. When she tells him how her nest collapsed and her egg was lost, Gabriel is sad he won’t be a big brother. To comfort his mother, Gabriel reminds her of the world’s beauty as the two swallows fly, dive, and survey the forest on a summer day. As Mommy Swallow embraces him, Gabriel glows with pride to see his mother’s “eyes smiling” once more. Originally published in Canada and translated from French, this quiet story is distinctive for specifically addressing pregnancy loss. The brief, gentle text, descriptive yet with room for discussion, pairs pleasantly with painterly, tranquil nature landscapes. Although the birds are charming, their strictly realistic rendering precludes visual character development through body and facial expressions. There is also an unfortunate emotional distance created by the loss of the egg outside the bird’s body, instead of inside, as with humans. Finally, making Gabriel the key to his mother’s happiness is a sweet idea, but it both places inappropriate responsibility on the child and disempowers Mommy Swallow; it may also alienate those caregivers reading aloud who have not experienced a successful pregnancy. In reality, although there are important external supports, for many adults experiencing pregnancy loss, resilience and strength must ultimately come from within.

This well-intentioned story about pregnancy loss is far from perfect but fills a gap. (Picture book. 3-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2019

ISBN: 978-2-89802-082-7

Page Count: 32

Publisher: CrackBoom! Books

Review Posted Online: July 23, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
THE DANCING LETTERS
by Evelyne Fournier ; illustrated by Aurélien Galvan ; translated by Carine Laforest

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ADDIE ANT GOES ON AN ADVENTURE

by Maren Morris & Karina Argow ; illustrated by Kelly Anne Dalton ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2024

Young readers will be “antsy” to join the hero on her satisfying escapade.

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An ant explores her world.

Addie Ant’s ready for adventure. Despite some trepidation about leaving the Tomato Bed, where she lives with her aunt, she plucks up her courage and ventures forth across the garden to the far side of the shed. On her journey, she meets her pal Lewis Ladybug, who greets her warmly, points the way, and offers sage advice. When Addie arrives at her destination, she’s welcomed by lovely Beatrix Butterfly and enjoys an “ant-tastic” helping of watermelon. Beatrix also provides Addie with take-home treats and a map for the “Cricket Express,” which will take her straight home. Arriving at the terminal, Addie’s delighted to meet another friend, Cleo Cricket, whose carriage service returns Addie home in “two hops.” After eating a warm tomato soup dinner, Addie falls asleep and dreams of future exploits. Adorable though not terribly original, this story brims with sensuous pleasures, both textual and visual. Kids who declare that they dislike fruits or veggies may find their mouths watering at the mentions and sights of luscious tomatoes, peas, beans, watermelons, berries, and other foodstuffs; insect-averse readers may likewise think differently after encountering these convivial, wide-eyed characters. And those flowers and herbs everywhere! The highlights are the colors that burst from the pages. Addie’s an endearing, empowering character who reassures children they’ll be able to take those first independent steps successfully.

Young readers will be “antsy” to join the hero on her satisfying escapade. (author’s note about ants) (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 9, 2024

ISBN: 9781797228914

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)