An earnest celebration of a parent-child relationship that fails to connect with its audience.
Former New Zealand prime minister Ardern explores the relationship between a working mother and her young daughter in this picture book based on conversations with her own child.
A bespectacled little girl reluctantly heads to day care on Monday morning, wishing she could stay home with her mother instead. The narrative unfolds through the child’s perspective as she processes her mom’s busy schedule and the time they spend apart over the course of a full week, from one Monday to the next. While the premise is relatable—reassuring children they remain their parents’ priority despite work obligations—the execution is wanting. The parent-child exchanges, though meaningful to the author, lack the appeal needed to resonate broadly. Moments clearly intended to be endearing or humorous land with a thud, as when the girl flatly states, “We went to the playground and fed the ducks. Then we had a picnic, till a dog stole our lunch. I think Saturday is too short.” What could have been a lively, amusing scene is instead reduced to a perfunctory report devoid of the spark or detail that would make readers laugh or truly understand. Jones’ iPad-rendered illustrations, while colorful, appear static, missing opportunities to add emotional depth or visually expand upon potentially humorous moments. The characters are pale-skinned.
An earnest celebration of a parent-child relationship that fails to connect with its audience. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9780593692301
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.
Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250393975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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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