Cute but somewhat illogical.
Hunting a “lost” language.
Ella the elephant and her pachyderm family—Bubbe, Zeyde, and little brother Eli—visit the beach. Bubbe peppers her conversation with Yiddish words but regrets she’s forgotten—“lost”—many words in that ancient language; she calls them a “treasure.” Ella, proud of her treasure-hunting skills, promises to help Bubbe find them and builds a ship from sand to go exploring. A wave ruins it, but undaunted Ella falls asleep and dreams of adventure. Alas, she doesn’t find what she seeks because she doesn’t know what a “lost language” looks like. As the family gets ready to head home, Ella spies a Yiddish lexicon on a table displaying “Seaside Treasures” and—better yet—recaps the day in an animated exclamation laced with every Yiddish word Bubbe used, even in the order she said them! Bubbe confirms Ella’s hunting prowess, crowing that the Yiddish “was inside you all along!” This cheerful story celebrating a loving family overplays the language shtick and strains credulity: Ella doesn’t know what Yiddish is yet can recall all Bubbe’s Yiddish terms and verbalize them correctly in context on her first try soon after hearing the words. The energetic illustrations fare better; the depiction of Ella’s shipboard exploration is especially vivid. All characters are animals. Yiddish words are set in a larger, boldfaced, capitalized red font. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Cute but somewhat illogical. (“what is Yiddish?”, glossary of Yiddish words with English definitions, pronunciation guides, and words spelled with Hebrew lettering) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 9798986396514
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kalaniot Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators.
Existing artwork from an artistic giant inspires a fairy-tale reimagination by a master of the horror genre.
In King’s interpretation of a classic Brothers Grimm story, which accompanies set and costume designs that the late Sendak created for a 1997 production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera, siblings Hansel and Gretel survive abandonment in the woods and an evil witch’s plot to gobble them up before finding their “happily ever after” alongside their father. Prose with the reassuring cadence of an old-timey tale, paired with Sendak’s instantly recognizable artwork, will lull readers before capitalizing on these creators’ knack for injecting darkness into seemingly safe spaces. Gaping faces loom in crevices of rocks and trees, and a gloomy palette of muted greens and ocher amplify the story’s foreboding tone, while King never sugarcoats the peach-skinned children’s peril. Branches with “clutching fingers” hide “the awful enchanted house” of a “child-stealing witch,” all portrayed in an eclectic mix of spot and full-bleed images. Featuring insults that might strike some as harsh (“idiot,” “fool”), the lengthy, dense text may try young readers’ patience, and the often overwhelmingly ominous mood feels more pitched to adults—particularly those familiar with King and Sendak—but an introduction acknowledges grandparents as a likely audience, and nostalgia may prompt leniency over an occasional disconnect between words and art.
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780062644695
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2025
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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