A charming choice for transitioning families.
The team behind How to Babysit a Grandpa (2012), How to Raise a Mom (2018), and other “How-to” titles surrounding domestic relationships turns to yet another family dynamic: the birth of a new baby.
A brown-skinned mom, a White dad, and their biracial child (who could either be a boy or girl) first prepare for and then welcome a new baby (who could also be a boy or girl). A White grandmother and a brown-skinned grandfather devotedly assist. Reagan’s upbeat, second-person narrative addresses young readers directly, conveying realistic expectations and advice for adapting to a newborn joining the clan. For example, the text offers tips on how to feel included in a shifting family paradigm: “If you need an extra hug, just ask.” The real core of the story, however, is showing children their special role as an older sibling and giving them a sense of agency. For instance, Reagan assures readers that although friends and family will love to visit the new baby, “You’re the expert.” That means warning visitors that "the baby squeezes pinkies very tightly" and reminding them not to feed the infant party food. Caregivers with little ones will appreciate the verisimilitude of Wildish’s cartoony digital illustrations, which show a messy but welcoming kitchen and disorderly but delightful playtime scenes. The illustrations also include fun details throughout, like the family cat and her new kittens, that complement the larger story arc. Background characters display some racial diversity. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A charming choice for transitioning families. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-43060-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts.
In this latest slice in the Food Group series, Humble Pie learns to stand up to a busy friend who’s taking advantage of his pal’s hard work on the sidelines.
Jake the Cake and Humble Pie are good friends. Where Pie is content to toil in the background, Jake happily shines in the spotlight. Alert readers will notice that Pie’s always right there, too, getting A-pluses and skiing expertly just behind—while also doing the support work that keeps every school and social project humming. “Fact: Nobody notices pie when there’s cake nearby!” When the two friends pair up for a science project, things begin well. But when the overcommitted Jake makes excuse after excuse, showing up late or not at all, a panicked Pie realizes that they won’t finish in time. When Jake finally shows up on the night before the project’s due, Pie courageously confronts him. “And for once, I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it.” The friends talk it out and collaborate through the night for the project’s successful presentation in class the next day. John and Oswald’s winning recipe—plentiful puns and delightful visual jokes—has yielded another treat here. The narration does skew didactic as it wraps up: “There’s nothing wrong with having a tough conversation, asking for help, or making sure you’re being treated fairly.” But it’s all good fun, in service of some gentle lessons about social-emotional development.
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780063469730
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
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
BOOK REVIEW
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