bookshelf

SALON SATURDAY

Name: SALON SATURDAY
Author: Janelle Harper
ISBN: 9780593526330

by Janelle Harper ; illustrated by Charlot Kristensen ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 23, 2025

An upbeat introduction to a beloved rite of passage.

bookshelf

A Black girl chooses a hairstyle.

The unnamed young narrator’s grandmother, mother, and big sister go to the salon every Saturday, and today the protagonist is joining them for the first time. As they head down the street and board the bus, she worries about selecting the right style. The people on the street have their own unique ’dos, as do the women in her family; they each have advice on how to decide (“Think about ease,” advises Momma, while Sissy says, “Think about personality”). “What is my kind of beautiful?” wonders the protagonist. After a tingly shampoo and a spell under the hair dryer, she’s inspired by her loved ones and makes her decision before happily joining “the parade of styles marching down the street.” While the story structure feels a bit formulaic, the relationships are warmly and thoughtfully portrayed; this is a joyful depiction of a milestone in a child’s life. Reminiscent of animation, Kristensen’s illustrations use abstract settings and spot art to showcase different hairdos. The combination of bright colors and pastels gives the setting an eclectic appearance.

An upbeat introduction to a beloved rite of passage. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2025

ISBN: 9780593526330

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
MY BLOCK LOOKS LIKE
by Janelle Harper ; illustrated by Frank Morrison

bookshelf

THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING

by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...

bookshelf

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. 25, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
BYE BYE, BUTTERFLY
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

- BOOK REVIEW
NO MOUSIE LEFT BEHIND
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MOST MAGNIFICENT MAKER'S A TO Z
by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires

bookshelf

ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

bookshelf

Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)