A sweet, moving tale about daughter-daddy moments.
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
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
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
A heartwarming reminder to embrace change.
A dog who belongs to an expecting couple adjusts to home life as a new baby arrives.
Pepita, the family pet, is beloved and still so little they call her Bebita (baby girl). But Pepita’s world is changing as her Mami and Papi await the arrival of a baby. Pepita is used to being spoiled “with treats and tummy rubs and my favorite fluffy pillow….But lately, things have been changing.” As the home gets new additions like a crib and gifts from the grandparents, Pepita feels left out, no longer the center of attention. Once the baby arrives, Pepita tries to adjust but is kept up at night by crying and doesn’t get playtime like before. But Pepita’s sweetness shines through as she finds ways to help out and bond with the new baby. “I feel so proud to be the big sister,” she concludes. The book is sprinkled with Spanish phrases, reflecting that Pepita is part of a Latine household; readers unfamiliar with Spanish will find the glossary helpful. Illustrations are warm and cuddly throughout, and the story is highly relatable; soon-to-be big siblings fretting over a new arrival will find it especially comforting. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A heartwarming reminder to embrace change. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023
ISBN: 9780593566985
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
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