A subtle and inventive alternative to today’s technology-tethered indoor play.
Flora is inspired to create her artistic drawings and paintings as she watches her younger brother, Will, engage in his adventurous, imaginative play.
A loud and rambunctious muse, Will has never seen the artwork that decorates the walls of his sister’s treehouse. One day, however, he observes her sketching, becomes curious, and climbs the ladder even though he is strictly an unwelcome visitor (“NO WILLS ALLOWED!” reads her sign). Flora’s gallery is impressive, and despite her initial grumpiness, she explains that many of the pictures mirror his play, like the recent aliens he was fighting or the time he flew his rocket to Pluto. As the siblings, who are white, reminisce about each of Will’s escapades represented in Flora’s masterpieces, the two soon combine their imaginative talents and create a new adventure together. Colorful digital illustrations temper the mild sibling rivalry with the children’s round, smiling faces. As Flora explains her artwork, realistic scenes fade to magnificent imaginary tableaux in which both children enact the artwork, underscoring how the creative use of crayons and markers can extend a young child’s concepts and perceptions.
A subtle and inventive alternative to today’s technology-tethered indoor play. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 28, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-62779-226-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2019
A tale of mutual adoration that hits a sweet note.
Little Honey Bunny Funnybunny loves baseball almost as much as she loves her big brother P.J.—though it’s a close-run thing.
Readers familiar with the pranks P.J. plays on his younger sibling in older episodes of the series (most illustrated by Roger Bollen) will be amused—and perhaps a little confused—to see him in the role of perfect big brother after meeting his swaddled little sister for the first time in mama’s lap. But here, along with being a constant companion and “always happy to see her,” he cements his heroic status in her eyes by hitting a home run for his baseball team and then patiently teaching her how to play T-ball. After carefully coaching her and leading her through warm-up exercises, he even sits in the stands, loudly cheering her on as she scores the winning run in her own very first game. “‘You are the best brother a bunny could ever have!’” she burbles. This tale’s a tad blander compared with others centered on P.J. and his sister, but it’s undeniably cheery, with text well structured for burgeoning readers. The all-smiles animal cast in Bowers’ cartoon art features a large and diversely hued family of bunnies sporting immense floppy ears as well as a multispecies crowd of furry onlookers equally varied of color, with one spectator in a wheelchair.
A tale of mutual adoration that hits a sweet note. (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2026
ISBN: 9798217032464
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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