A short, sweet tale that models positive problem-solving skills for very young readers.
A young boy confronts a bully and learns the power of kindness.
Benny, a young boy with dark curly hair and a light brown complexion, is enjoying recess when he sees a kid named Sam bullying Benny’s friend Mia. He feels “his tummy twist and turn” and remembers what his teacher, Ms. Rose, has told them: “If you see someone being bullied, be a buddy, not a bystander.” Benny invites Sam “in a friendly voice” to play. Sam reflects on Benny’s words before apologizing to Mia, and the trio runs off and happily spends the rest of recess together. After the story’s conclusion, a sheet of paper with crayons strewn about shows a “hand-drawn” list of advice for dealing with bullies, such as confiding in a trusted adult. Father-and-daughter co-authors Lamar and Liana Golden also include a section for readers to come up with their own ways of dealing with similar situations. Cluer’s illustrations feature vivid colors with minimal shading, as well as diverse skin colors in each of its three characters (Benny appears Latino; Mia is white, and Sam is Black). The authors present thoughtful questions about bullying that are clearly geared toward a very young audience—those searching for solutions to more complex bullying will need to look elsewhere. Whimsical pictures (complete with giant sunflower slides and trampoline flowers) and a straightforward lesson ultimately make for a simple yet uplifting read.
A short, sweet tale that models positive problem-solving skills for very young readers.Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9798896980353
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Lamar Golden
Review Posted Online: Dec. 18, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
