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SIR TIM IS A LITTLE JEALOUS

Name: SIR TIM IS A LITTLE JEALOUS
Author: Judith Koppens
ISBN: 978-1-60537-492-5

by Judith Koppens ; illustrated by Eline van Lindenhuizen ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 5, 2019

The story itself does not add much to the title and cover.

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A child worries that his friend is replacing him but discovers that friends can be shared.

Sir Tim, a white boy wearing a gray, visored helmet and a red cape over his crest-emblazoned sweater, is walking to the playground with his friend Sara, a white girl with blonde hair. When Sara sees her brown-skinned friend Max, she suggests they play together, and “before Tim can say anything, she’s gone.” While Max and Sara run from the swing to the seesaw to the grass having fun, Sir Tim watches them, with “a strange feeling in his tummy.” The text wonders, “Doesn’t Sara like him anymore?” Sir Tim tries stunt after increasingly daring stunt to regain Sara’s attention, but she’s “too busy laughing and playing with Max” to notice. When his final stunt ends with a big fall, Sara finally comes running. Tim reveals his worries to Sara, who assures him she can have more than one friend and he will always be her best friend. This Dutch/Belgian import presents a familiar scenario with a simple story arc and an unsurprising resolution that is almost too easy and, regrettably, seems not to encourage interracial friendships. The child-friendly illustrations use soft lines and smeared colors, with patches of red clothing on gray and green backgrounds. Best for the youngest audiences, this is an adequate treatment of the theme for those whose shelves lack it.

The story itself does not add much to the title and cover. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-60537-492-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Clavis

Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
MILA AND HER FRIENDS
by Judith Koppens ; illustrated by Anouk Nijs

- BOOK REVIEW
MILA MISSES MOMMY
by Judith Koppens ; illustrated by Anouk Nijs

- BOOK REVIEW
BENNY WANTS A HAIRCUT
by Judith Koppens ; illustrated by Marja Meijer

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THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING

by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...

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Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.

First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 1, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Kids Can

Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
BYE BYE, BUTTERFLY
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

- BOOK REVIEW
NO MOUSIE LEFT BEHIND
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MOST MAGNIFICENT MAKER'S A TO Z
by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires

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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...

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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)