Inconsistencies in worldbuilding and confused portrayals overshadow this fantasy.
Two kingdoms decide to solve their differences—through dragons.
The kingdom of Arbor is known for its ample trees, orchards, mushrooms, birds, and fruit. Separated from Arbor by a long hedge, Pomosa is famous for its wheat, cattle, and lakes. The citizens of each kingdom often look to the other’s land, desiring the goods they lack. Hearing their parents’ wishes, the children steal the wanted items at night, escalating tensions between the two kings. Both rulers send ambassadors to China to get dragons to defend their territories. The resulting scenes show somewhat stereotypical portrayals of Chinese people (Arbor’s and Pomosa’s residents are diverse). The decision to have the kings travel to a real country feels jarring given that Arbor and Pomosa are fictional. The choice to set part of the book in China is especially odd given that the dragons appear to be European, with relatively short bodies, large wings, and the ability to breathe fire. (Chinese dragons have elongated bodies and are typically tied to water.) The presence of the dragons does halt the thefts, but the kings still demand each other’s goods. Eventually the dragons fight, collapsing in front of the citizens. Both kingdoms decide to forge peace and rid themselves of the selfish kings. The narrative is evenly paced and the artwork attractive, with whimsical landscapes filled with immaculate shading and detailed portraits in a warm pastel palette. However, they can’t overcome the clichéd and inaccurate cultural depictions. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Inconsistencies in worldbuilding and confused portrayals overshadow this fantasy. (Picture book. 5-9)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72846-774-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Andersen Press USA
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A jam-packed opener sure to satisfy lovers of the princess genre.
Ice princess Lina must navigate family and school in this early chapter read.
The family picnic is today. This is not a typical gathering, since Lina’s maternal relatives are a royal family of Windtamers who have power over the weather and live in castles floating on clouds. Lina herself is mixed race, with black hair and a tan complexion like her Asian-presenting mother’s; her Groundling father appears to be a white human. While making a grand entrance at the castle of her grandfather, the North Wind, she fails to successfully ride a gust of wind and crashes in front of her entire family. This prompts her stern grandfather to ask that Lina move in with him so he can teach her to control her powers. Desperate to avoid this, Lina and her friend Claudia, who is black, get Lina accepted at the Hilltop Science and Arts Academy. Lina’s parents allow her to go as long as she does lessons with grandpa on Saturdays. However, fitting in at a Groundling school is rough, especially when your powers start freak winter storms! With the story unfurling in diary format, bright-pink–highlighted grayscale illustrations help move the plot along. There are slight gaps in the storytelling and the pacing is occasionally uneven, but Lina is full of spunk and promotes self-acceptance.
A jam-packed opener sure to satisfy lovers of the princess genre. (Fantasy. 5-8)Pub Date: June 25, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-35393-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
Charming.
An assortment of unusual characters form friendships and help each other become their best selves.
Mr. and Mrs. Tupper, who live at Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, are antiquarians. Their daughter, Jillian, loves and cares for a plant named Ivy, who has “three speckles on each leaf and three letters in her name.” Toasty, the grumpy goldfish, lives in an octagonal tank and wishes he were Jillian’s favorite; when Arthur the spider arrives inside an antique desk, he brings wisdom and insight. Ollie the violet plant, Louise the bee, and Sunny the canary each arrive with their own quirks and problems to solve. Each character has a distinct personality and perspective; sometimes they clash, but more often they learn to empathize, see each other’s points of view, and work to help one another. They also help the Tupper family with bills and a burglar. The Fan brothers’ soft-edged, old-fashioned, black-and-white illustrations depict Toasty and Arthur with tiny hats; Ivy and Ollie have facial expressions on their plant pots. The Tuppers have paper-white skin and dark hair. The story comes together like a recipe: Simple ingredients combine, transform, and rise into something wonderful. In its matter-of-fact wisdom, rich vocabulary (often defined within the text), hint of magic, and empathetic nonhuman characters who solve problems in creative ways, this delightful work is reminiscent of Ferris by Kate DiCamillo, Our Friend Hedgehog by Lauren Castillo, and Ivy Lost and Found by Cynthia Lord and Stephanie Graegin.
Charming. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: May 27, 2025
ISBN: 9781665942485
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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