ALICE & LUCY WILL WORK FOR BUNK BEDS

Name: ALICE & LUCY WILL WORK FOR BUNK BEDS
Author: Jaime Temairik
ISBN: 978-1-4847-0816-3

by Jaime Temairik ; illustrated by Jaime Temairik ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 5, 2016

The stakes, as they are, never get much higher than a trashed party pastry, but spending time with Lucy and Alice is well...

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A pair of bear sisters who get along great, except when it comes to sharing a bed, work up a sweet plan to buy bunk beds—but things get messy along the way.

Sisters Lucy (larger, messy, loves jelly) and Alice (word nerd, likes plain peanut butter) are the best of friends, but their disagreement about foods they love causes a disaster when they take a job at a bakery to pay for their bunk beds. A bake-off goes horribly wrong, ruining an elaborate wedding cake—but these cubs are hardworking and smart. They come up with an alternate cake that ends up being a big hit. Illustrator Temairik's first solo book has a playful one-thing-leads-to-another structure that of course ends with the titular bunk beds—after some amusing detours. She varies the visual pace of the story with double-page spreads, some dialogue-heavy back-and-forth exchanges, and lots of sneaky puns, such as those on the cereal boxes ("How Wheat It is!") and this world's paper of record, the Gnu York Times. But the word jokes alone would make for a thin experience if the facial expressions and body language of Temairik's characters weren't so spot-on and the mostly easygoing vibe between Lucy and Alice weren't so comfortably familiar.

The stakes, as they are, never get much higher than a trashed party pastry, but spending time with Lucy and Alice is well worth it . (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: July 5, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-4847-0816-3

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Review Posted Online: April 12, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
BIGFOOT DOES NOT LIKE BIRTHDAY PARTIES
by Eric Ode ; illustrated by Jaime Temairik

- BOOK REVIEW
HOW TO NEGOTIATE EVERYTHING
by David Spellman with Lisa Lutz ; illustrated by Jaime Temairik

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE'S A BEACH IN MY BEDROOM
by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson

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I GOT YOU

by Derrick Barnes ; illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2025

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind.

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When Mom and Dad bring baby Rasheed home for the first time, it’s love at first sight for big brother Anthony.

As the boys grow, Anthony teaches his little sibling how to build a tower with blocks (and how to knock it down with a loud “WHOP!!!”), how to ride a bike, and even how to fly (through a well-timed leap from the swings). When thunder and lightning wake them both one night, Anthony assuages Rasheed’s fears with the book’s titular refrain: “I got you.” But one day Anthony goes for a bike ride with his friends, leaving Rasheed alone and hurt. That night, Anthony explains that while he may spend time with his peers, his bond with Rasheed is unbreakable. And as the book comes to a close, with Mom and Dad introducing the boys to their new little sibling, Anthony leaves Rasheed with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to be a supportive big brother himself. Narrated by Rasheed, Barnes’ text is elegant in its simplicity, loving yet never saccharine, and always emotionally honest. Using varied perspectives, Knight-Justice’s richly hued, collagelike digital illustrations combine a patchwork of textures and patterns, immersing readers in this affectionate Black family’s world. Greens and blues dominate the pages, bringing to life an idyllic suburban setting.

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind. (Picture book. 4-8)