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FRIENDS BEYOND MEASURE

Name: FRIENDS BEYOND MEASURE
Author: Lalena Fisher
ISBN: 978-0-06-321052-3

by Lalena Fisher ; illustrated by Lalena Fisher ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 28, 2023

A loving tale inventively and informatively told.

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Charts, diagrams, and other visual aids map out a tight friendship.

Fisher adds occasional lines of narrative, but they’re hardly needed, as the graphics ingeniously incorporated into each illustration really tell the whole story—beginning with a Venn diagram showing that dark-skinned, dark-haired Ana (“me”) and blond-haired, light-skinned Harwin (“you”) may have differences aplenty (while Ana has ADHD, Harwin has dyslexia), but they share enough interests to spark a close and lasting bond. Later, a timeline traces hilarious Halloween experiences, proportionally sized circles allow instant comparisons between hours spent in various sorts of play, and, climactically, Ana literally flops on a bar chart of feelings ranging from “shock” (the highest and red) to a lower and neutral-colored “excitement for you” upon learning that Harwin is moving away. Attentive viewers will spot subtle signs of character development, too, such as Harwin’s absorption in a book in a later scene. “We will always be friends,” the narrator affirms in parting, and, surrounded by images of ways to stay in touch and share experiences long distance, perhaps they will. Last but not least, backmatter identifying the various infographics on view here and explaining how they can be used will tempt readers strongly to page back for closer looks. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A loving tale inventively and informatively told. (Informational picture book. 7-9)

Pub Date: Feb. 28, 2023

ISBN: 978-0-06-321052-3

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- PERSPECTIVES
5 Picture Books That Make Math Seriously Fun

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LITTLE DAYMOND LEARNS TO EARN

by Daymond John ; illustrated by Nicole Miles ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 21, 2023

It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists.

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How to raise money for a coveted poster: put your friends to work!

John, founder of the FUBU fashion line and a Shark Tank venture capitalist, offers a self-referential blueprint for financial success. Having only half of the $10 he needs for a Minka J poster, Daymond forks over $1 to buy a plain T-shirt, paints a picture of the pop star on it, sells it for $5, and uses all of his cash to buy nine more shirts. Then he recruits three friends to decorate them with his design and help sell them for an unspecified amount (from a conveniently free and empty street-fair booth) until they’re gone. The enterprising entrepreneur reimburses himself for the shirts and splits the remaining proceeds, which leaves him with enough for that poster as well as a “brand-new business book,” while his friends express other fiscal strategies: saving their share, spending it all on new art supplies, or donating part and buying a (math) book with the rest. (In a closing summation, the author also suggests investing in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrency.) Though Miles cranks up the visual energy in her sparsely detailed illustrations by incorporating bright colors and lots of greenbacks, the actual advice feels a bit vague. Daymond is Black; most of the cast are people of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists. (Picture book. 7-9)

Pub Date: March 21, 2023

ISBN: 978-0-593-56727-2

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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HORRIBLE HARRY SAYS GOODBYE

From the Horrible Harry series , Vol. 37

by Suzy Kline ; illustrated by Amy Wummer ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 27, 2018

A fitting farewell, still funny, acute, and positive in its view of human nature even in its 37th episode.

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A long-running series reaches its closing chapters.

Having, as Kline notes in her warm valedictory acknowledgements, taken 30 years to get through second and third grade, Harry Spooger is overdue to move on—but not just into fourth grade, it turns out, as his family is moving to another town as soon as the school year ends. The news leaves his best friend, narrator “Dougo,” devastated…particularly as Harry doesn’t seem all that fussed about it. With series fans in mind, the author takes Harry through a sort of last-day-of-school farewell tour. From his desk he pulls a burned hot dog and other items that featured in past episodes, says goodbye to Song Lee and other classmates, and even (for the first time ever) leads Doug and readers into his house and memento-strewn room for further reminiscing. Of course, Harry isn’t as blasé about the move as he pretends, and eyes aren’t exactly dry when he departs. But hardly is he out of sight before Doug is meeting Mohammad, a new neighbor from Syria who (along with further diversifying a cast that began as mostly white but has become increasingly multiethnic over the years) will also be starting fourth grade at summer’s end, and planning a written account of his “horrible” buddy’s exploits. Finished illustrations not seen.

A fitting farewell, still funny, acute, and positive in its view of human nature even in its 37th episode. (Fiction. 7-9)