An adventurous and curious musical note flutters out of a concert at Carnegie Hall to see what else might be happening in New York City.
The note discovers a Broadway jazz club and interacts with every instrument in the band, dancing and swooping through the double bass, the trumpet, the drums, the saxophone, and the trombone, partaking of joyous rhythms all through the night. In the morning it joins a guitarist in Central Park, where it brings forth more notes, then a chord, and then a song that catches the ear of a bike rider, who carries the song all through the city. Druvert employs lyrical verses in aabb rhymes, creating images that soar along with the music. Inventive, detailed illustrations in blue-gray, black, and white, along with one shining, golden trumpet, alternate with, and provide depth for, breathtaking, incredibly delicate and intricate laser-cut black pages, enriching the sweet, slight tale. In this French import, New York City is as much an important character as the musical note, with constant movement, lively nightlife, and depictions of some of its iconic buildings, water towers, street carts, fire escapes, and more. Adults will need to be the guardians of this beautiful work, carefully turning the pages with their thin, white protectors so their little ones can listen and admire and fall under its spell. An amazing, glorious experience. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-500-65173-5
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Review Posted Online: July 23, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018
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
Not astonishingly go-out-and-buy-it-at-graduation inspirational, but all it takes is one seed of change to be planted.
Imagination soars—quite literally—when a little girl follows her own set of rules.
Every year Oak Hill School has a go-kart race called the Going Places contest. Students are given identical go-kart kits with a precise set of instructions. And of course, every single kart ends up exactly the same. Every one, that is, except Maya’s. Maya is a dreamy artist, and she would rather sketch birds in her backyard than get caught up in the competition. When she finally does start working, she uses the parts in the go-kart box but creates something completely different. No one ever said it had to be a go-kart. Maya’s creative thinking inspires Rafael, her neighbor (and the most enthusiastic Going Places contestant), to ask to team up. The instructions never say they couldn’t work together, either! An ode to creativity and individuality to be sure, but the Reynolds brothers are also taking a swipe at modern education: Endless repetition and following instructions without question create a culture of conformity. Hopefully now, readers will see infinite possibility every time the system hands them an identical go-kart box.
Not astonishingly go-out-and-buy-it-at-graduation inspirational, but all it takes is one seed of change to be planted. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-6608-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2014
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