An informative and celebratory, multigenerational story of swimming.
A young Black boy and his grandmother become confident swimmers.
Kwesi accompanies his friends to Lagoon Lake, but his fear of the water keeps him on the pier, which prompts teasing from his peers. Crestfallen, Kwesi hides his tears as his mother drives him home. After enjoying a scrumptious meal of peanut soup and fufu made by his Nana Ruby, he opens up about what happened at the lake. Nana Ruby—who moved to the U.S. from a small Ghanian village as a child—tells her grandson that she never learned to swim. When she was young, white Americans filled pools with dirt rather than integrate them. But she strikes a deal with Kwesi: She will learn to swim if he does. Commeh integrates many aspects of Ghanaian culture into this story, among them the African water spirit Mami Wata (who serves as inspiration as both grandmother and child begin swim lessons), Adinkra symbols, the djembe drum, the game oware (also called mancala), and more. All of this makes for wordy though heartfelt text that’s sometimes weighed down by explanations. Quintino’s mixed-media illustrations are dominated by oranges, greens, and deep blues; vibrant nature scenes alternate with warm domestic tableaux. Commeh brings the narrative to a triumphant conclusion as both Kwesi and Nana Ruby dive into Lagoon Lake together.
An informative and celebratory, multigenerational story of swimming. (author’s and illustrator’s notes, glossary, map of Ghana, explanation of Ghanaian names) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9798888593622
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2025
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
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
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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