A good message, but one limited to the able-bodied.
This children’s picture book encourages kids to love their bodies and what they can do.
In a cartoon-bright playground filled with bees, squirrels, butterflies, and leafy trees, a group of large-eyed children romp. Each is special, “with lots of gifts” and an inner light that glows “bright and beautifully.” The children take turns saying what they love about themselves—eyes, nose, hands, mouth, ears, legs, feet, and knees—and why: because each part helps a child experience something wonderful. A nose “helps me breathe the fresh, clean air and summer breeze”; ears “help me hear my friends talking, far and near.” With “every part made perfectly,” each kid concludes, “I LOVE ME!” Space is provided for kids to write down what they love about themselves. Idonije (I Love Football, 2017, etc.) gives the book’s self-esteem concept a lot of breezy energy, helped by RF’s full-color, kinetic illustrations. Idonije’s verse mostly scans well, with a bouncy rhythm. It’s good, too, that Renzo pays attention to diversity, including black, Asian, and Caucasian children. It’s disappointing, though, that this body-focused tale doesn’t take disabled kids into account, whose ears, eyes, or limbs may not be “made” the same way, and who therefore may not recognize themselves in this book as deserving of self-love.
A good message, but one limited to the able-bodied.Pub Date: April 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-946687-08-1
Page Count: 20
Publisher: ATHLiTACOMiCS
Review Posted Online: Sept. 29, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.
A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.
Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
Essential.
A guidebook for taking action against racism.
The clear title and bold, colorful illustrations will immediately draw attention to this book, designed to guide each reader on a personal journey to work to dismantle racism. In the author’s note, Jewell begins with explanations about word choice, including the use of the terms “folx,” because it is gender neutral, and “global majority,” noting that marginalized communities of color are actually the majority in the world. She also chooses to capitalize Black, Brown, and Indigenous as a way of centering these communities’ voices; "white" is not capitalized. Organized in four sections—identity, history, taking action, and working in solidarity—each chapter builds on the lessons of the previous section. Underlined words are defined in the glossary, but Jewell unpacks concepts around race in an accessible way, bringing attention to common misunderstandings. Activities are included at the end of each chapter; they are effective, prompting both self-reflection and action steps from readers. The activities are designed to not be written inside the actual book; instead Jewell invites readers to find a special notebook and favorite pen and use that throughout. Combining the disruption of common fallacies, spotlights on change makers, the author’s personal reflections, and a call to action, this powerful book has something for all young people no matter what stage they are at in terms of awareness or activism.
Essential. (author’s note, further reading, glossary, select bibliography) (Nonfiction. 10-18)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7112-4521-1
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2019
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