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I WANT TO BE SPAGHETTI!

Name: I WANT TO BE SPAGHETTI!
Author: Kiera Wright-Ruiz
ISBN: 9780593529874

by Kiera Wright-Ruiz ; illustrated by Claudia Lam ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 11, 2023

Use your noodle and add this saucy tale to your collection!

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Learn to love yourself for who you are.

A bright orange instant ramen package, with big round black eyes and a tiny red mouth, sits on a supermarket shelf with fellow ramen packages. Ramen announces they would much rather be spaghetti—after all, the spaghetti aisle is much bigger, and there are so many people shopping for it. The other ramen packages try to change our hero’s mind by saying how cool they are—to no avail. After being purchased and driven home, Ramen hopes their new owners will prepare them with meatballs and tomato sauce. However, upon arriving in the kitchen, Ramen discovers their true destiny as well as accompanying treats that make ramen a tasty, unique dinner. Wright-Ruiz’s first-person narrative combines jaunty dialogue with rich vocabulary, like penne and fettuccine as well as nori and narutomaki. Her message that children should embrace what makes them different comes through clearly. Lam’s vibrant illustrations have a striking mangalike feel, with large round eyes, exaggerated expressions, and paneled vignettes that evoke humor and energy. Her vivid palette of yellows, oranges, and browns is mesmerizing, with pop art–style endpapers that feature ingredients from the story. An author’s note provides a short history of ramen. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Use your noodle and add this saucy tale to your collection! (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: July 11, 2023

ISBN: 9780593529874

Page Count: 56

Publisher: Kokila

Review Posted Online: April 24, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

by Gregory R. Lange ; illustrated by Sydney Hanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.

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All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.

Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)

Pub Date: May 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

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THE COOL BEAN MAKES A SPLASH

From the I Can Read! series

by Jory John ; illustrated by Pete Oswald ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 26, 2024

Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.

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The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.

Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.

Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)