For readers seeking ways to express themselves or calm their emotions, this introduction to meditation through one child’s...
A boy in Saudi Arabia sees a storm as a parallel to his own fears and becomes inspired by animals to find inner peace in this story from a yoga therapist.
Members of Ahmed’s family, who appear to be Bedouins, have traveled across the desert to race their camels in an important gathering. Unlike his relatives, who are excited, Ahmed is afraid of his first race. He leaves his tent to spend time with his camel, Jamal. In the quiet, he notices a golden spiny mouse and a Saker falcon. In the distance, he sees a sandstorm, and he realizes that, like the chaos of the tempest, his emotions are causing turmoil in his body. Similar to the protagonist of Manly’s (Nothando’s Journey, 2016) earlier picture book, Ahmed explores his inner life through observing the animals around him. But because Ahmed’s meditation is tranquil, this work lacks some of the vibrant movement of the previous volume. Yet the importance of deep breathing and looking for positive emotions within any turbulence comes through clearly, and the subdued tone of the text skillfully encourages readers to meditate. The author’s earth-toned illustrations, a mix of pen and paint, offer both realistic depictions of the animals and setting and a successful metaphoric expression of Ahmed’s inner life. Three meditation exercises, tied to the narrative, are provided in the endpapers.
For readers seeking ways to express themselves or calm their emotions, this introduction to meditation through one child’s experience delivers a solid starting point.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-9980220-0-0
Page Count: 27
Publisher: JABU Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2019
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.
Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.
Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464268076
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
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