Young readers will love this story of how four Chinese babies come to be welcomed into new families in North America. Especially powerful is the depiction of those who are traveling to China to get their children. A couple from Miami, a pair of women from Vashon Island near Seattle, a single mom in Minnesota, and couple with a Japanese surname in Toronto, Canada all set out for the city of Guangzhou, in China. Meanwhile, “Still asleep, Wu Li smacked her lips, Li Shen burped, Qian Ye yawned, and Chun Mei Ni snored.” The parallel depictions of the soon-to-be parents and the soon-to-be adopted children across the ocean help to create the sense of family right from the beginning. The seven parents become a group in China and exchange stories and expectations as they make their way to the White Swan Hotel, their home away from home, while they arrange to meet and adopt their beautiful daughters. Dr. Aoki uses her own experiences with adoption as the basis for this account, co-authored by Okimoto (Dear Ichiro, not reviewed, etc.), who has written before about Asian-Americans and is herself the daughter of an adoptee. So’s (Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats, below, etc.) effervescent watercolors in a vibrant and colorful palette add much to the presentation of a story that will intrigue and interest both those who are adopted and those who are not. A must buy for all libraries and a lovely gift for new families of all stripes. (extensive afterword) (Picture book. 4-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2002
ISBN: 0-618-16453-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2002
BOOK REVIEW
A gorgeous picture book that invites young readers to make their own neighborhoods places where good days abound.
The tale of a kid who loves his neighborhood as much as Mr. Rogers loved his.
Wearing blue overalls and red tennis shoes, Daniel leaves his mom and baby sibling to venture to Grandma’s house. As passers-by wish him “a good day,” he asks what makes a good day for each of them. Mrs. Sanchez, the painter, says clear skies; kite-flying Emma says “a steady wind”; the bus driver mentions riders who say “please” and “thank you.” Daniel seems to know nearly everyone in the diverse neighborhood, and each has a response for him. On his way back, leading Grandma to his house, he sees that his neighbors are all having a good day. As this little brown-skinned boy progresses through his urban neighborhood, readers can appreciate the level of detail Archer includes in her colorful, meticulously composed, collage illustrations, from small cutout photographs on the front covers of the magazines on the newsstand to individually cut and torn paper that makes up the flowers and plants lining many yards. This visually stunning book also embraces nontraditional gender roles, illustrates diversity within families, and advocates for the importance of giving children a level of independence and also welcoming them into the family circle after their adventures.
A gorgeous picture book that invites young readers to make their own neighborhoods places where good days abound. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 14, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-399-54672-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2019
Utterly satisfying.
In Faruqi’s debut for children, transitioning readers watch a fun, curious, and creative Pakistani-American girl solve problems and have adventures.
Four separate sections give Yasmin lots of opportunities. “Yasmin the Explorer” makes a map of her neighborhood and uses it when she goes to the farmers market with her mother. “Yasmin the Painter” doesn’t know what to create for the art contest at school, but when she tinkers with a paint set gifted to her by her baba, she gets an idea that proves successful. “Yasmin the Builder” is once again stumped over a class project, but after a few false starts and moments of frustration, she comes up with a brilliant contribution. Finally, “Yasmin the Fashionista” is bored at home with her grandparents while her parents eat out together. She complains of having nothing to do, but when she stumbles into her mother’s closet, the hijabs and saris and a new kameez give her lots of ideas. Each episode spans two to three chapters. Each spread has full- or half-page art in attractive, bold colors. Readers will be charmed by this one-of-a-kind character and won’t tire of her small but significant dilemmas. Faruqi nails the child’s perspective, and illustrator Aly gives Yasmin life. Backmatter intended for child readers offers things to think and talk about from the stories, an index of Urdu words presented as a fun way to learn the language, facts about Pakistan, a recipe, and a craft.
Utterly satisfying. (Fiction. 5-9)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68436-022-2
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Picture Window Books
Review Posted Online: May 27, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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