Goodhearted but less than engaging.
A boy's spirits are lifted by a visit from his guncle.
Henry doesn’t really fit in at school. The other kids think he’s weird. Luckily, his beloved guncle (presumably short for “gay uncle,” though the word gay is never used in the text) is here and is ready to help Henry learn to be himself. The “fabulous” guncle wears colorful clothes and a neckerchief, drives a yellow convertible, and has a French bulldog named Jimmy Chew. Bucking stereotypes, he is also a devout Christian and a football fan. The guncle is a fairy godmother–esque figure who appears, nameless, to whisk Henry off on a series of brief adventures—eating waffles, listening to show tunes, visiting the library and the zoo—and to impart an important lesson about self-acceptance before vanishing again. The friendly illustrations capture the guncle’s personality and depict a racially diverse community setting, with occasional fun background moments from the guncle’s dog and Henry’s cat and baby sibling. The message to love and be true to yourself is evergreen, and the story may appeal to children, whether gay or not, who don’t fit in. The meter of the text is clunky at times, however, and it feels repetitive by the end. The plot has no significant rise and fall, suspense, or exciting page turns to hold young readers’ attention. Henry, the guncle, and their family present white.
Goodhearted but less than engaging. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 14, 2024
ISBN: 9780762485611
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
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
A solid if message-driven conversation starter about the hard parts of learning.
Children realize their dreams one step at a time in this story about growth mindset.
A child crashes and damages a new bicycle on a dark, rainy day. Attempting a wheelie, the novice cyclist falls onto the sidewalk, grimacing, and, having internalized this setback as failure, vows to never ride again but to “walk…forever.” Then the unnamed protagonist happens upon a glowing orb in the forest, a “thought rearranger-er”—a luminous pink fairy called the Magical Yet. This Yet reminds the child of past accomplishments and encourages perseverance. The second-person rhyming couplets remind readers that mistakes are part of learning and that with patience and effort, children can achieve. Readers see the protagonist learn to ride the bike before a flash-forward shows the child as a capable college graduate confidently designing a sleek new bike. This book shines with diversity: racial, ethnic, ability, and gender. The gender-indeterminate protagonist has light brown skin and exuberant curly locks; Amid the bustling secondary cast, one child uses a prosthesis, and another wears hijab. At no point in the text is the Yet defined as a metaphor for a growth mindset; adults reading with younger children will likely need to clarify this abstract lesson. The artwork is powerful and detailed—pay special attention to the endpapers that progress to show the Yet at work.
A solid if message-driven conversation starter about the hard parts of learning. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-368-02562-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion/LBYR
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2020
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