A heartfelt reminder that courage grows through imagination, persistence, and people who believe in us.
A shy young girl channels her inner superhero.
Jasmine is creative but cautious, more comfortable hiding behind her salmon-colored glasses than stepping into the spotlight. But when Grandpa reads her tales of adventure each night, her imagination expands, and she becomes “Action Jasmine,” a fearless hero whose exploits she details in the pages of her sketchbook. When Grandpa encourages her to visit the park, she dons a bold disguise as she embarks on an even bolder mission: making a friend. Giang’s narrative offers a gentle, empathetic look at the common challenge of connecting with peers. Jasmine’s internal struggle—brave in her mind, anxious in reality—is portrayed with authenticity and heart, while her relationship with Grandpa demonstrates how supportive adults can help build young people’s self-assurance. Kang’s energetic illustrations shift playfully between fantasy and reality to convey Jasmine’s nerves, excitement, and determination. A cool blue-green palette grounds the scenes, while bursts of bright orange highlight Jasmine’s courageous moments. Vocabulary boosts (incognito, undercover) are explained with humor, helping build burgeoning readers’ confidence in language. This reassuring picture book validates big feelings and celebrates the small acts of bravery required to forge new connections. Shy children, especially those with rich imaginations, will see themselves reflected—and encouraged to take one step forward. Jasmine and Grandpa present East Asian.
A heartfelt reminder that courage grows through imagination, persistence, and people who believe in us. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
ISBN: 9780593619247
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...
Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.
The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 21, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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