School-age dreams of acting can come true.
The stars shine brightly for a boy who knows he is destined to twinkle and sparkle.
Dylan is one exuberant boy who is certain of his destiny: He will be “The Star” (literally) in the starring role of his school play about the solar system. He is well-trained in dance, song, and mime (with nods to Gypsy and Reba McIntyre) and quite comfortable with his talent. Alas, his teacher is assigning the roles, and Dylan is to play the role of the “SQUIRREL?!” Utter despair ensues even as the other students rejoice in their parts as objects in outer space. But then Dylan runs into the kid playing the role of Saturn, who is clearly unhappy with having to perform at all but convinces Dylan that the role of the squirrel is “the best part of the show!” After all, how many squirrels have ventured into space? Dylan interviews the local squirrels and is determined, thereafter, to be the “first squirrel-stronaut” ever. Yes, it is finally stardom. Edwards’ little tale of a stage-struck boy may resonate with other wannabe performers and should entertain even those who prefer sitting in the audience. Ebbeler’s bright and colorful illustrations fill the pages with action, their slight exaggerations appropriately histrionic, while leaving room for large speech bubbles for the characters’ dialogue. Dylan presents white, and his classmates are a diverse mix.
School-age dreams of acting can come true. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 5, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-9848-9346-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2020
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
BOOK REVIEW
Pitch-perfect tension and delightful silliness.
The legend of a giant, dangerous duck at Cucumonga Campground looms large.
Young Hector and his family are on vacation. Everything seems pleasant except for the many objects that have gone missing and the warnings Hector keeps receiving. Everyone tells him not to interact with the ducks. Don’t go near them, don’t look at them, and absolutely, positively, do not feed them. To further emphasize the point, “DO NOT FEED THE DUCKS” signs pop up every few feet at the campground. So what does Hector do? He feeds the ducks. They just look so cute and hungry. Amid the many feathers flapping, a large, foreboding shadow suddenly crosses the lake. Colón builds suspense through short, clipped narration. The weather turns ominous, and people flee in terror—it’s…THE QUACKEN! The fearsome, colossal wildfowl has appeared! It’s always one step ahead of Hector until there is no escape. Hector is popped into the duck’s bill like a delicious morsel. But, luckily for Hector, “children taste terrible.” Reminiscent of old, cheesy horror films, this tale will make a hilariously over-the-top read-aloud. Pino ramps up the drama in his illustrations, alternating full-page spreads with graphic novel–like panels and vignettes. Hector and his family are brown-skinned, while other campers are racially diverse.
Pitch-perfect tension and delightful silliness. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 16, 2024
ISBN: 9781665922487
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 20, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2024
© 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.
