by Holly Sterling ; illustrated by Holly Sterling ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 5, 2020
Aspiring “karate kid” Maya leads readers through a typical Shotokan class.
The story starts with the day, as Maya rises “bright and early” to go to Saturday-morning karate class. A series of comics-style panels details preparations for the class, done with Dad’s help: donning gi and belt, then walking to class, stuffed tiger in tow. A class of diverse children (Maya is white), all of varying ranks, are greeted by a sensei, a beige-skinned woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to the biracial, British author/illustrator. The breakdown of the class covers all of the bases—bowing in, warming up, practicing basics (blocks, here), running kata (sequences of movements that represent a choreographed fight), and ending mokuso (meditation)—swiftly, devoting only one or two double-page spreads to each segment. Several essential segments of a typical karate class in the U.S., including the beginning mokuso and the ending bows, are missing; Sterling does, however, illustrate the multiple levels within the technique segments, as students move from demonstrating the techniques in the air to practicing them with one another. The delicate cartoons are dynamic and lively, doing much to enhance text that feels a bit lifeless at times. The spreads proclaiming “Look, I’m a karate kid! // We all are!” and showing a collective kiai (shout to release energy) and jumping kick, seems a bit forced, although the ending is, admittedly, empowering.
Enthusiastic—but not quite a winning strike. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: May 5, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1457-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
Categories: CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS
Share your opinion of this book
Did you like this book?
More by Margaret McAllister
BOOK REVIEW
by Margaret McAllister ; illustrated by Holly Sterling
BOOK REVIEW
by Holly Sterling ; illustrated by Holly Sterling
BOOK REVIEW
by Margaret McAllister ; illustrated by Holly Sterling
by Rachel Bright ; illustrated by Rachel Bright ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 31, 2013
Monster lives in Cutesville, where he feels his googly eyes make him unlovable, especially compared to all the “cute, fluffy” kittens, puppies and bunnies. He goes off to find someone who will appreciate him just the way he is…with funny and heartwarming results.
A red, scraggly, pointy-eared, arm-dragging monster with a pronounced underbite clutches his monster doll to one side of his chest, exposing a purplish blue heart on the other. His oversized eyes express his loneliness. Bright could not have created a more sympathetic and adorable character. But she further impresses with the telling of this poor chap’s journey. Since Monster is not the “moping-around sort,” he strikes out on his own to find someone who will love him. “He look[s] high” from on top of a hill, and “he look[s] low” at the bottom of the same hill. The page turn reveals a rolling (and labeled) tumbleweed on a flat stretch. Here “he look[s] middle-ish.” Careful pacing combines with dramatic design and the deadpan text to make this sad search a very funny one. When it gets dark and scary, he decides to head back home. A bus’s headlights shine on his bent figure. All seems hopeless—until the next page surprises, with a smiling, orange monster with long eyelashes and a pink heart on her chest depicted at the wheel. And “in the blink of a googly eye / everything change[s].”
This seemingly simple tale packs a satisfying emotional punch. Scarily good! (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Dec. 31, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-374-34646-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2013
Categories: CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S PARANORMAL & SUPERNATURAL
Share your opinion of this book
Did you like this book?
More by Rachel Bright
BOOK REVIEW
by Rachel Bright ; illustrated by Rachel Bright
BOOK REVIEW
by Rachel Bright ; illustrated by Chris Chatterton
BOOK REVIEW
by Rachel Bright ; illustrated by Jim Field
by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014
Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.
First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: Feb. 26, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
Share your opinion of this book
Did you like this book?
More by Ashley Spires
BOOK REVIEW
by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires
BOOK REVIEW
by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires
BOOK REVIEW
by Mike Reiss ; illustrated by Ashley Spires
© Copyright 2021 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!