by Jennifer K. Mann ; illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2015
Would that all teachers find the star-worthy within each of their students.
A messy, daydreaming artist despairs of ever doing anything star-worthy in Mrs. Benson’s class.
But it’s not for lack of trying. She mishears the math problem she is supposed to solve on the board and just can’t find her “BIG voice” when she volunteers to read aloud. And spilling snack all over Mrs. Benson’s desk isn’t going to do the trick, either. The final straw for Rose is Mrs. Benson’s inspection of desks. Rose knows hers is the worst in the class, and the butterflies turn into a full-blown tummy ache as Mrs. Benson gets closer and closer. But she’s saved by the bell and manages to make it perfect before school the next day…only to have it undone by her artistic efforts. But that talent becomes the key to both her very own star and one for Mrs. Benson as well, for recognizing and celebrating Rose’s uniqueness. Mann’s ink, gouache, and digital collage illustrations play up the dichotomy between Rose, a pink-cheeked redhead with untied shoes, and Mrs. Benson, an older Caucasian woman with grayish hair in a bun. While readers will certainly empathize with Rose—her facial expressions and body posture make that easy—it’s difficult to see what they will take away from the story, as Rose is just herself throughout.
Would that all teachers find the star-worthy within each of their students. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: June 9, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6514-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 5, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2015
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by Kyla May ; illustrated by Kyla May ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 26, 2019
A strong, accessible diary story for readers seeking an adorable animal tale.
Bub the anxious pug tackles snow days and new neighbors in his second outing.
Bub, acclaimed by some as “the cutest pug on the planet,” at first shares the enthusiasm owner Bella expresses about snow days even though he doesn’t know what they are. Then Duchess the cat (mildly antagonistic, in typical feline fashion) rains on Bub’s parade by pointing out that snow is water—and Bub’s no fan of rain or baths. After a comedic and disastrous first attempt, Bub learns how to properly dress for snow and enjoy it. The outdoor fun’s cut short by mysterious noises coming from the new neighbor, which frighten Bella into thinking there’s a monster. Bub puts on a Sherlock Holmes get-up to investigate but becomes afraid himself of the new neighbor’s large dog. Finally, Bella meets Jack, who’s been working on a tree fort, and his dog, Luna, who is enthusiastically friendly. The story ends on a positive note, as they all happily work together on the fort. The full-color cartoon illustrations, especially of Bub, are adorably expressive and certain to please the age group. The generous font and format—short, diary-entry paragraphs and speech-bubble conversations—create a quick pace. Bub’s stylized emoji bubbles return and are most hilarious when used to express his nervous flatulence. Bella and Jack both present white.
A strong, accessible diary story for readers seeking an adorable animal tale. (Fantasy. 5-7)Pub Date: Dec. 26, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-53006-3
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2019
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by Patty Brozo ; illustrated by Mike Deas ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 12, 2019
Inviting.
A story inspired by a real-life effort to achieve social inclusion.
Rhyming text enriched by energetic, cartoon-style illustrations follows the diverse students in Miss Mellon’s class at recess. Most of the children dive into play with peers, but some feel timid or excluded. Those at play are initially oblivious to the discomfort of the others, but then a child named Jake notices someone using a crutch and hanging back from play. “ ‘It’s my leg,’ said Gabe. ‘I can’t run in a cast, / so I never get picked, not even last.’ ” Affable Jake responds, “Come play with us anyway. There’s time to spare,” causing Gabe to reply, “Wait a minute …I’ll be right there.” This interaction creates a compassionate domino effect of inclusion, with Gabe reaching out to another kid on the sidelines, and so on. When the children (and, oddly, an elephant and dragon) go inside after recess they ask, “how could we say, / without using words, that we all want to play?” Miss Mellon says they need “a seat / to wait for a friend or a buddy to meet.” It’s unfortunate the solution—the eponymous buddy bench—originates with an adult rather than the compassionate children themselves, especially since the author’s note reveals that it was a first grader who proposed the first one in the United States, but the generosity on display is heartening.
Inviting. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Aug. 12, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-88448-697-8
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Tilbury House
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2019
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by Patty Brozo ; illustrated by Ana Ochoa
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