by Jennifer Gasoi ; illustrated by Steve Adams ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2016
A solid balance of entertainment and education, with a neat beat.
A musical exploration, in various styles, with a full-page listening guide for each of its 12 tunes.
Composer Gasoi describes the book as her “musical world,” and the variety of musical styles and instrumentation works to bring real diversity to the collection. Each song’s lyrics are presented on a double-page spread backgrounded by Adams’ fanciful paintings of animals and instruments. The bluegrass “Little Blue Car” preps for the trip, with animal travelers loading up the car with their instruments. “Throw a Penny in the Wishing Well” is a doo-wop tune. The sweet “Baby Blue” has a folk flavor. “Goin’ on a Trip” imagines an array of fun journeys, with a light jazz feel. “The Animal Party” bubbles with klezmer craziness. “The Bayou” uses Cajun music influences to describe a festive celebration with great food and dancing. “All Join Hands” is a peppy gospel tune. “Bright Side of Life” presents a get-happy message in a calypso style. There’s also blues, Dixieland swing, and roots music, and the final song, “Purple Man,” consciously mixes styles. Listening guide pages include a tidy explanation of the musical background of each tune as well as questions that make up a clever quiz. On the accompanying CD, Gasoi’s voice is bright and nimble, and her lyrics have an easy feel.
A solid balance of entertainment and education, with a neat beat. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-2-924217-79-5
Page Count: 44
Publisher: The Secret Mountain
Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2016
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by Valerie Bolling ; illustrated by Kaylani Juanita ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 15, 2023
Warmly buoyant.
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A Black family of four enjoys a day at the pool.
Readers may recognize two of the family members from Bolling and Juanita’s Together We Ride (2022), which centered on a father teaching his young daughter to ride a bike. This latest takes a similar tack, as the mother now helps her young son learn to swim. The child is uncertain, but with her encouragement, he dips a toe into the water and picks up the fundamentals: lifting his head above the water, floating, pumping his arms and legs. There are snafus along the way—the child initially sinks, but Mom is right there. Finally the boy strikes out to swim, “On my own, / in the zone.” The whole family is reassuring, cheering the child on. Big sister does the backstroke and a handstand, displaying the confidence the little one is still learning. Brief but upbeat rhyming verses will especially appeal to beginning readers. Juanita’s carefully composed, muted line illustrations shine in the details, from swim bonnets on Mom and big sister to a mermaid tattoo on Dad’s side. Touching moments in the art pair well with the text. Black family pride and joy abound—this is a family that allows its little ones the space to make forays into independence while supporting them every step of the way. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Warmly buoyant. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2023
ISBN: 9781797212494
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2023
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by Anna Walker ; illustrated by Anna Walker ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2019
A quiet book about making a giant leap.
Lottie knows something no one else knows. Her mother and brother don’t know. Her swimming instructor does not know, and the other children in swim class certainly don’t know.
There is a shark that lives in the pool. It wants to eat Lottie—only Lottie—and Lottie is not going to let it get anywhere near her. Most children have had moments when they’ve sat on the sidelines watching others laugh and play because they were too scared to just dive in, and that is precisely where Lottie finds herself. Lucky for her, Walter shows up just in time. He sings, they read books, play in bubbles, and even share the same favorite food. But when it comes time for Lottie to face her fears, can Walter truly help? Walter, as readers and Lottie see but her family may not, is an enormous walrus. Walker’s soft and appropriately watery illustrations complement and extend her whimsical text, lending a dreamlike feel to the story. Readers will discern the shadowy, predatory shape of the shark below the surface of the water even as Lottie’s classmates splash and play, and they will sympathize, and they will giggle at the depictions of Walter’s huge bulk in Lottie’s tidy urban home while believing that Walter will protect her. Lottie, her mother, and her brother have light-brown skin and black hair.
A quiet book about making a giant leap. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 7, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-328-47038-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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