Juana’s big problema will resonate with many readers, who will look forward to hearing more about this spunky Colombian...
Juana is back. This time she has to navigate the ups and downs of the changes brought on by the new person in Mami’s life.
The way she sees it, “My life is just about perfect.” She lives in Bogotá, “a city that smells of eucalyptus and fresh fruit”; she has the nicest neighbors; Mami is perfect; her abuelos are wonderful; her school “is quite good, too, though math and English are hard for me to learn.” And of course, there is Lucas, “the most perfect perro in the whole entire world.” Lately, though, her life is “a little less perfect.” Mami has changed her hairstyle and is singing a lot, and Juana is spending more time with her relatives and less with Mami. Turns out, “Mami has a new friend. His name is Luis.” As with its predecessor, the Belpré-winning Juana & Lucas (2016), the story is told from Juana’s point of view with humor and drama. The typeset, text, and illustrations are playfully intertwined, with a sprinkling of italicized Spanish words throughout. Medina’s cartoon-style illustrations done in ink and watercolor are vibrant and full of movement, beautifully capturing the full range of Juana’s conflicting emotions as Luis becomes a part of their lives.
Juana’s big problema will resonate with many readers, who will look forward to hearing more about this spunky Colombian girl’s life. (Fiction. 5-8)Pub Date: May 14, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0131-4
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: March 11, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
A scientist highlights elephant family values in this rare glimpse of a newborn’s first season.
“Family is very important to elephants,” notes O’Connell (Elephant Scientist, 2011), taking advantage of a serendipitous birth in a wild herd to observe and describe how adorable little “Liza”—“Even her belly and toenails are pink”—is nurtured and protected by her mother and other family members through her first few months. Reinforcing that message, the color photos almost without exception catch Liza posing beneath, or even leaning against, obviously attentive older elephants as the herd travels across the Namibian plain to a water hole for a drink and a refreshing mud bath. The physical birth itself isn’t described or shown, and the author covers the natural hazards that wild elephants face only in general terms (even the one photo showing elephants being tracked by lions has been artfully blurred). Nevertheless, her accounts of elephant growth, social behavior, and environmental and human challenges are both detailed enough to satisfy demanding young naturalists and easy for younger general readers to understand. A fetching portrait, from a researcher who has studied these animals for many years and plainly cares for them deeply. (fact page, afterword) (Informational picture book. 6-8)
Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-544-14944-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 26, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2013
Deliciously traditional.
A week of eating matzah has one little girl ready to swear off the bland, unleavened cracker for good, until a sweet, time-honored staple slowly changes her mind.
Miriam observes Passover with parents, grandparents, aunt and uncle each consecutive day with different foods added to her matzah. She happily eats her unleavened bread with butter, jelly, tuna salad, egg salad, cream cheese, cottage cheese, almond and apple butter and jam. But after eating plain matzah, egg matzah, whole-wheat matzah and chocolate-covered matzah, Miriam awakens on the eighth day of the holiday completely “sick, sick, sick of matzah” and refuses to eat another bite. Perplexed and amused, Grandpa entices Miriam with the prospect of a breakfast of Passover French toast, otherwise known as matzah brei, a pancake-type creation from pieces of matzah soaked in egg and milk, pan-fried in butter and topped with sugar, cinnamon or maple syrup. Large amiable cartoon characters drawn in acrylic and charcoal portray a loving and cheerful family. They recount the Passover saga through Newman’s dialogue-driven text, into which she subtly weaves some interpretive messages for today. “Matzah goes with everything,” says Grandpa. “And that reminds us that we should get along with everyone, too.” Convinced Miriam completes the holiday with the sweetened meal she cooked with her culinary savvy Grandpa.
Deliciously traditional. (recipe, author’s note) (Picture book/religion. 5-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8109-9737-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: Jan. 17, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2012
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
