by Kathy Stinson ; illustrated by Dušan Petričić ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 14, 2017
A joyful reminder that perseverance pays off, especially when you let out the artist within.
The early life of renowned violinist Joshua Bell is portrayed in a lively fashion.
It’s apparent that the violin is the perfect instrument for the small white boy, as his first tentative attempts at familiar tunes turn into a joyful immersion in the music. Colorful mixed-media illustrations dance and swirl across the pages as Joshua envisions stories emanating from the music he plays. At the age of 12, Joshua enters a tough competition for a chance to perform with an orchestra, choosing one of the most difficult pieces for a violinist to master. Apprehension turns into personal triumph as he soldiers on after a major mistake in his performance. Petricic’s light touch, fluid lines, and watercolors are reminiscent of Quentin Blake’s work, and they bring to life the exuberance with which Joshua approaches his art. Expansive double-page spreads, plenty of white space, and unusual perspectives give just the right amount of room for Stinson’s descriptive text, which captures a range of emotions, from music that “tickled every hair on Joshua’s head” to notes that “hung limp in the air like wet laundry on a clothesline.” The final page of the book provides the basis for the story in question-and-answer format.
A joyful reminder that perseverance pays off, especially when you let out the artist within. (Picture book/biography. 5-8)Pub Date: March 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-55451-900-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Annick Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 25, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2017
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by Valeri Gorbachev ; illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 2016
An early reader that kids will want to befriend.
In an odd-couple pairing of Bear and Chipmunk, only one friend is truly happy to spend the day at the beach.
“Not me!” is poor Chipmunk’s lament each time Bear expresses the pleasure he takes in sunning, swimming, and other activities at the beach. While controlled, repetitive text makes the story accessible to new readers, slapstick humor characterizes the busy watercolor-and-ink illustrations and adds interest. Poor Chipmunk is pinched by a crab, buried in sand, and swept upside down into the water, to name just a few mishaps. Although other animal beachgoers seem to notice Chipmunk’s distress, Bear cheerily goes about his day and seems blithely ignorant of his friend’s misfortunes. The playful tone of the illustrations helps soften the dynamic so that it doesn’t seem as though Chipmunk is in grave danger or that Bear is cruel. As they leave at the end of the book Bear finally asks, “Why did you come?” and Chipmunk’s sweet response caps off the day with a warm sunset in the background.
An early reader that kids will want to befriend. (Early reader. 5-7)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3546-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2015
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by Jessica Love ; illustrated by Jessica Love ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 4, 2023
A lovely vision for small, sensitive existentialists.
Under the desert night sky, Dad helps his child find cosmic comfort.
The vast universe has made a child feel too small despite their close family. Until, the young narrator tells us, they and their father pack their old pickup, driving through the “rubber and french fries” smell of the city and the “sweet and smoky” mountain scent to camp off-road in a remote arroyo. Together they see tiny beetle prints, jump in sand dunes, name birds, build a fire, watch the sunset, and stretch out in the truck bed. A thoughtful, small human, the child admits to being scared of “how big the universe is and how it goes on and on forever.” But equally thoughtful Dad explains that stars, beetles, birds, and even people are made of energy. Angst is not easily tamed, but snuggling and giving the constellations idiosyncratic names help, as does Mom’s back-at-home surprise: glowing stars covering the narrator’s room. In this bed under the stars, this budding philosopher finally feels “at home here in the universe.” It’s a quiet, contemplative tale that might not strike a chord with all readers but will reassure those who share the protagonist’s worries. Delicate, realistic art plays warm orange and brown hues against blues from pale to indigo, balancing (living) warmth and (interstellar) distance. The child and family are light-skinned and redheaded. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A lovely vision for small, sensitive existentialists. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1239-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
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