A meaningful ode to a literary hero and youthful imagination.
Edmond draws from personal experience for this story of a Black child whose love of books is nurtured by LeVar Burton, host of TV’s Reading Rainbow.
Mom, who presents white, and Dad, who is Black, introduce the young narrator to “someone special,” whom they know “from a famous TV show called Roots.” Entranced, the child is inspired to seek out the books LeVar recommends, from Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day to Jeanette Winter’s Follow the Drinking Gourd. The narrative culminates with the child meeting LeVar by chance in the grocery store; they hug, Mom takes a picture, and the child proudly shows off the photo in school the next day. Reading Rainbow isn’t mentioned by name until the backmatter; many adults will easily recognize the show, but for younger readers, Edmond includes a helpful blurb about Burton and the books and TV episodes referenced. Though these stories let Edmond see himself reflected on the page, he observes that many of them were by non-Black creators; in his powerful author’s note, he stresses the importance of spotlighting books by Black authors and artists, “because representation in the hand that holds the pen is just as important as representation that is seen on the page.” Chung’s cartoon illustrations effectively depict the young narrator’s flights of fancy, from quilting alongside LeVar to sailing the high seas with him. While the book is light on plot, Edmond’s reverence for Burton, his impact, and the magic of childhood memories is palpable.
A meaningful ode to a literary hero and youthful imagination. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781623543174
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.
The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.
Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780063329560
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
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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
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