WHERE DO THEY GO?

Name: WHERE DO THEY GO?
Author: Julia Alvarez
ISBN: 978-1-60980-670-5

by Julia Alvarez ; illustrated by Sabra Field ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 6, 2016

Alvarez and Field’s remarkable synthesis of word and image here makes for a seamless, powerfully evocative contemplation of...

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Two gifted Vermonters join forces to tackle the mysteries of death head-on.

A timeless question asked by children and adults alike brings together the voluminous talents of novelist, poet, and children’s author Alvarez and renowned woodblock artist Field. In this spare, rhymed poem, “Where do they go?” is the driving query of those left wondering and reckoning with loss “when somebody dies”: “Who can I ask? / Does anyone know? // Do they go where the wind goes / when it blows? // Do they fall with the rain / from the sky? / Are they my tears / when I cry?” Field’s visibly textured prints portray the bereaved here as, mostly, grade school–aged children of different races, allowing readers everywhere to relate. Especially moving are Field’s depictions of the departed in near-featureless blank white or black profile, vividly contrasting with the colorful, animated children longing to fill the absence of the missing loved ones. The text is laid out over and around the illustrations; calming horizontal lines of text and image complement one another on some pages, while on others the text is actively incorporated into the pictures. Without ever venturing an explicit explanation, Alvarez offers many tempting suggestions for those adapting to what remains and posits a wonderfully calming conclusion to a “small puzzle” that can sometimes prove large enough to unmoor those beset by loss of a loved one, especially for the first time.

Alvarez and Field’s remarkable synthesis of word and image here makes for a seamless, powerfully evocative contemplation of grief. (Picture book/poetry. 3-7)

Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-60980-670-5

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Triangle Square Books for Young Readers

Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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ALREADY A BUTTERFLY
by Julia Alvarez ; illustrated by Raúl Colón

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HOW TÍA LOLA ENDED UP STARTING OVER
by Julia Alvarez

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HOW TÍA LOLA SAVED THE SUMMER
by Julia Alvarez

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MAY I COME IN?

by Marsha Diane Arnold ; illustrated by Jennie Poh ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 15, 2018

Lovely artwork combined with goodwill toward men.

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Thunderstorms are for sharing.

“Rain poured. / Raccoon shivered. / Thunder roared. / Raccoon quivered.” Raccoon is not altogether comfortable alone in his den as the storm outside rages. Nevertheless, he braves the wet night in order to find some company with whom he can share his collywobbles. In a narrative composed of onomatopoeia and occasional verse, Raccoon travels through the woods, dropping in on Possum, Quail, and Woodchuck in turn, only to be refused entry because there isn’t enough room. “Swish, swish, PLISH.” Raccoon pushes on through the darkness and rain—Poh’s fine artwork resembles particularly good theatrical backdrops against which her stylized figures stand out—until he reaches Rabbit’s hutch, overrun with little rabbits. Raccoon thinks it’s another bust until Rabbit says, “What good luck….Come right in. There’s always room for a good friend.” Being rabbits, they have to be space-ready. Soon enough Possum, Quail, and Woodchuck come knocking, seeking emotional shelter from the storm, and they, too, are welcomed in for some carrot stew and to romp with the 10 little rabbits. Come on in, the story says without saying it, which is always the best way, there’s always room for one more. Readers may notice that only Rabbit is identified as female, which reinforces more than one stereotype.

Lovely artwork combined with goodwill toward men. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: Feb. 15, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-58536-394-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press

Review Posted Online: Nov. 21, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2017

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
BIG BOY 4014 AND THE STEAM TEAM
by Marsha Diane Arnold ; illustrated by Adam Gustavson

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LIGHTS OUT
by Marsha Diane Arnold ; illustrated by Susan Reagan

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MINE. YOURS.
by Marsha Diane Arnold ; illustrated by Qin Leng

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KINDERGARTEN HAT

by Janet Lawler ; illustrated by Geraldine Rodríguez ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2020

A practically perfect first-experience story, especially for anxious hearts and gentle spirits.

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First-day jitters are conquered with gentleness, empathy, and a kind smile in this sweet back-to-school tale.

Carlos is anxious about the start of kindergarten, unsure of what to expect and full of what-ifs. Then his new teacher, Mrs. Bashay, sends a welcome letter with two important instructions: send “a photo of you doing something you love,” and bring a flower to add to her big flowered hat on the first day of school. After much deliberation, Carlos decides to share a photo of himself and his beloved garden. The same garden is the source of a big bright daisy to add to Mrs. Bashay’s hat on the first day of school. But then, disaster! En route to school the happy little daisy is accidentally dismantled, along with Carlos’ verve. What can Carlos contribute now? Fortunately, Mrs. Bashay is as warm and welcoming in person as she was in her letter, and with a little bit of flexibility, all is well. With a Latinx protagonist and a diverse cast of classmates, this book offers plenty of mirrors for new kindergarten students. Carlos presents as male, and it is refreshing to see a boy character depicted with such emotional complexity and tenderness. The story is brief, but there is much to love here, with its reassuring message that will encourage both enthusiastic and worried first-time students.

A practically perfect first-experience story, especially for anxious hearts and gentle spirits. (Picture book. 3-6)