A father shares precious moments with his daughter in this debut rhyming picture book about gratitude and love.
A father’s dream comes true when his daughter is born. He loves seeing her learn new things and hurries home each night. As she grows old enough for walks through the woods, he teaches her an important lesson: “Look at the sky and feel the breeze. / The greatest joy in life is in little moments like these.” As the daughter grows from toddler to grade schooler to teenager, he repeats that refrain. When she’s grown with a daughter of her own, the new mother recites her father’s refrain to her own child during a family outing. The Belinkies, a husband-and-wife team, creates this poignant story in stanzas that sometimes vary in rhythm and rhyme but always examine the father’s deep love. While there is some indoor silliness (getting ready for school becomes a dress-up game), the majority of the family adventures happen outdoors and celebrate not only the kinship between parent and child, but also their love of nature. Although the girl’s mother is present for many of these events, the tale frequently depicts her off to the side, deftly keeping the focus on father and daughter. Bailey’s beautifully realistic watercolors of the White family show the girl’s growth from newborn to mother in a gentle flow, aging her appropriately in each scene.
A sweet, moving tale about daughter-daddy moments.Pub Date: Oct. 28, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-692-19599-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: JM Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: March 24, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Categories: CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S POETRY
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A love letter to libraries.
A Black child, with hair in two puffballs tied with yellow ribbons, a blue dress with a Peter Pan collar, and black patent leather Mary Janes, helps Grandmother with the housework, then, at Grandmother’s suggestion, heads to the library. The child’s eagerness to go, with two books under an arm and one in their hand, suggests that this is a favorite destination. The books’ wordless covers emphasize their endless possibilities. The protagonist’s description of the library makes clear that they are always free to be themselves there—whether they feel happy or sad, whether they’re reading mysteries or recipes, and whether they feel “quick and smart” or “contained and cautious.” Robinson’s vibrant, carefully composed digital illustrations, with bright colors that invite readers in and textures and patterns in every image, effectively capture the protagonist’s passion for reading and appreciation for a space where they feel accepted regardless of disposition. In her author’s note, Giovanni states that she spent summers visiting her grandmother in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she went to the Carnegie Branch of the Lawson McGhee Library. She expresses gratitude for Mrs. Long, the librarian, who often traveled to the main library to get books that Giovanni could not find in their segregated branch. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A lushly illustrated homage to librarians who provide a welcome and a home away from home for all who enter. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-358-38765-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Versify/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
Categories: CHILDREN'S POETRY
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Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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