OLD TRACKS, NEW TRICKS

Name: OLD TRACKS, NEW TRICKS
Author: Jessica Petersen
ISBN: 978-1943147-23-6

by Jessica Petersen ; illustrated by Jessica Petersen ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 14, 2017

A jaunty rhyme and inventive toys-come-to-life spin on challenging the status quo, with especial appeal to fans of all...

bookshelf

Three sections of wooden train tracks inspire new ideas and fun.

Trixie, Tracky, and Tinker sit in the $1 replacement-track bin, longing to be part of a complete train set. In order to stand out, they stack themselves in twisty ways. A little white boy notices their tricks and brings them home. Now they are finally part of a set! However, their excitement fades when brash, bossy trains start barking orders. “THAT’S ENOUGH! / We trains are here to puff and chuff. / You tracks are supposed to be in line. / Where’s our railway? It’s half past nine!” The tracks quickly snap into place, but it’s really dreary being stuck in the same spot all of the time. They need to shake things up! Photographs of wooden track pieces, digitally collaged with expressive eyes and mouths, populate the pages. Stacked together with other blocks, covered in foil, with marker inked details, or glowing under a black light, Trixie, Tracky, and Tinker show the older tracks creative ways to have fun. Even the grumpy trains—in a most prescriptive lesson—learn new tricks. “Spec-track-ular” train track tips and activities are appended.

A jaunty rhyme and inventive toys-come-to-life spin on challenging the status quo, with especial appeal to fans of all things Thomas. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: March 14, 2017

ISBN: 978-1943147-23-6

Page Count: 48

Publisher: The Innovation Press

Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

bookshelf

WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

by Gregory R. Lange ; illustrated by Sydney Hanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.

bookshelf

All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.

Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)

Pub Date: May 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

bookshelf

ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

bookshelf

Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)