A fun, inspiring NYC folktale of achievement and redemption.
Two New York siblings find a magical object that might help them achieve their dreams in Day’s whimsical narrative for young readers.
Young Manhattanites Sebastian and Lilly Kemp have grown up knowing Central Park like their own backyard, exploring its expanses together on roller skates and scooters. While Lilly, a 10th grader, loves the zoo, studying the snow leopards for a science project, Sebastian, a seventh grader, prefers the Chess and Checkers House, where his friend Mr. Bernstein helps him polish his game in hopes of defeating his archenemy Warner, the school chess champion. One shadow falls over the kids’ happy explorations. Their father left the family some time ago and is “traveling around the world, searching for something.” Though his mother and sister seem resigned to his absence, Sebastian refuses to give up hope. He is a dreamer at heart even though his nightly dream escapades have stopped since his father’s departure. When his fear of facing another chess defeat by Warner threatens to sink Sebastian into permanent hopelessness, Mr. Bernstein decides that strong measures are called for. He gives Sebastian his prized possession, an old New York subway token on a neck chain, which has interesting powers. Skeptical but intrigued, Sebastian soon finds that the “mighty token” brings both great success and serious responsibility. Day has created a likably quirky protagonist in Sebastian, who is both kind and perceptive. He skillfully conveys the sarcastic vulnerability of the tweenager in such succinctly eloquent descriptions as “suit-job man” for a businessperson and Sebastian’s defensively sneering reaction to another student’s European vacation, “They’ll stay in duh-lux hotels and eat at duh-lux restaurants that probably don’t even serve pizza.” Though some plot elements seem derivative—the missing-father narrative is reminiscent of Suzanne Collins’ Underland Chronicles, for example—the overall story is compelling and empowering.
A fun, inspiring NYC folktale of achievement and redemption.Pub Date: March 11, 2022
ISBN: 979-8-98543-490-3
Page Count: 116
Publisher: Artists Gate Press
Review Posted Online: April 21, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Readers can still rely on this series to bring laughs.
The Heffley family’s house undergoes a disastrous attempt at home improvement.
When Great Aunt Reba dies, she leaves some money to the family. Greg’s mom calls a family meeting to determine what to do with their share, proposing home improvements and then overruling the family’s cartoonish wish lists and instead pushing for an addition to the kitchen. Before bringing in the construction crew, the Heffleys attempt to do minor maintenance and repairs themselves—during which Greg fails at the work in various slapstick scenes. Once the professionals are brought in, the problems keep getting worse: angry neighbors, terrifying problems in walls, and—most serious—civil permitting issues that put the kibosh on what work’s been done. Left with only enough inheritance to patch and repair the exterior of the house—and with the school’s dismal standardized test scores as a final straw—Greg’s mom steers the family toward moving, opening up house-hunting and house-selling storylines (and devastating loyal Rowley, who doesn’t want to lose his best friend). While Greg’s positive about the move, he’s not completely uncaring about Rowley’s action. (And of course, Greg himself is not as unaffected as he wishes.) The gags include effectively placed callbacks to seemingly incidental events (the “stress lizard” brought in on testing day is particularly funny) and a lampoon of after-school-special–style problem books. Just when it seems that the Heffleys really will move, a new sequence of chaotic trouble and property destruction heralds a return to the status quo. Whew.
Readers can still rely on this series to bring laughs. (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 8-12)Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4197-3903-3
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2019
SEEN & HEARD
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.
Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250393975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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