Vibrant illustrations highlight the beauty of the region, elevating a lackluster story.
A young Indian girl champions a green alternative to save the river from pollution.
Prema is looking forward to the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations, where idols of the elephant-headed god are venerated and submerged in the river at the end of 10-day festivities. In recent years, painted plaster statues have begun to clog the river, polluting the water. Prema knows this only too well—her mother fell sick from chemicals in the paint. Inspiration strikes when Prema realizes that she can use river clay to create a Ganesh statue. She enlists the assistance of her friends, and slowly other children help her by sourcing natural elements to add to the biodegradable statues. When it comes time for the celebrations, most people still bring traditional plaster statues to the river, but Prema’s statues are the talk of the village—and Prema has high hopes for next year. Lively illustrations feature a range of brown-skinned characters; artist Dasgupta’s note mentions that she incorporated intricate local fabric patterns and geometric art designs known as kolam from Tamil Nadu, where the protagonist lives. Prema’s community is an inclusive one, with a child who uses a crutch and a Muslim child being depicted. The problem and solution feel too pat, however, with explanatory language breaking the flow of the story. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Vibrant illustrations highlight the beauty of the region, elevating a lackluster story. (information on Ganesh Chaturthi, instructions for creating sculpting dough and making a statue, author’s note) (Picture book. 5-10)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781646869978
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Thoughtful and joyful.
A child of Vietnamese descent fantasizes about the perfect outfit for Tết.
One night, Mai dreams about being a big “STAAAAAAR” and fielding questions on the red carpet. Mai’s literal dream dress is a sparkly silver ballroom gown with a sweetheart cut. After waking up, the child is eager to tell Ba all about it, but first it’s time to get ready. It’s the first day of Tết, or Lunar New Year, and the family plans to celebrate at Mai’s grandmother’s house. Though Mai loves visiting Bà Nội, the child balks at donning the áo dài, a Vietnamese outfit consisting of a tunic worn over trousers. “Stars wear dresses and gowns,” Mai tells Ba. But Ba shows Mai the family photo album, explaining that Bà Nội had her own sewing school in Vietnam and that her students lovingly dubbed her the “Queen of Áo Dài.” To keep their traditions alive when the family emigrated, Bà Nội continued to make áo dài for her loved ones, and the children learned to sew them as an expression of love. Finally, with a newfound appreciation for the garment, Mai greets Bà Nội with a hug, clad in a customized áo dài made by Ba. Told entirely through naturally expressed and well-paced dialogue and accompanied by vividly textured illustrations, this is a loving tale of a family finding a creative way to reshape a beloved tradition.
Thoughtful and joyful. (glossary, “let’s design our own áo dài” activity) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781665917346
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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