by Judy Carey Nevin ; illustrated by Stephanie Six ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 11, 2017
A pleasing salute to fathers and the time they spend with their children.
As a father bear and his cub go through their day together, the text enumerates all the things that daddies like (hint: they are the things the cub likes, too).
“Daddies like smooches. / Daddies like hugs. // Daddies like ‘Good morning to you!’ ” After a breakfast of pancakes made to look like bears’ faces, the duo strikes out on an adventure outdoors. They swing (from his expression, Daddy’s not too sure about how much he likes to jump off), play kangaroo (Daddy gets dizzy), pretend to be monsters and roar, and then enjoy quiet time lying in the grass and blowing dandelion seeds. Back at home, Daddy like splashes, boats, and peekaboo through the bubbles, jammies, stars, and night-lights. (This last is troublingly illustrated as lighting bugs trapped in jars that have no holes in the lids.) Snuggles, sleep, and “I love you” follow. Six’s barrel-shaped, anthropomorphized bears have tiny arms and legs, big noses, and the slightest of ears. Their range of expressions is delightful, and father-child pairs could do worse than to spend their days like this.
A pleasing salute to fathers and the time they spend with their children. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: April 11, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0197-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: March 19, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2017
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by Judy Carey Nevin ; illustrated by Susie Hammer
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by Judy Carey Nevin ; illustrated by Stephanie Six
by Sybil Rosen ; illustrated by Camille Garoche ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 16, 2021
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.
A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.
Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
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by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
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by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson
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