by Lesley Younge ; illustrated by Lonnie Ollivierre ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 15, 2023
A sweet tale worth slowing down to read.
A Black child rushes through the city to meet his grandmother.
Meet A-Train Allen, who takes his time getting to school in the morning but is known for speeding back home (it’s said that he can traverse the city faster than the subway—hence his nickname). A-Train Allen flies through the park, past the big kids playing basketball and the older men playing chess. As fast as he may be, he’s careful when he crosses the street. Barreling down the pavement, he responds to passersby with, “Got somewhere to be, got somewhere to be!” Depicting a busy, diverse city reminiscent of New York, Ollivierre’s illustrations are all brightness and movement as the boy weaves through crowded streets. A-Train Allen doesn’t slow until he reaches the elevated train station, where the tracks are vibrating with the arrival of a train. Soon after, his grandmother emerges with a kiss and buckets of praise for her grandson, who seems to beat her to the subway stop daily. Now that he’s reunited with his grandmother, A-Train can enjoy a safe and supervised walk home. Younge’s bouncy text makes dynamic use of color, font, and vocabulary (A-Train Allen “bolt[s],” “dash[es], and “skid[s]” on his way home) for a tale of vitality and verve that will resonate with fans of The Quickest Kid in Clarksville (2016) by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Frank Morrison. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A sweet tale worth slowing down to read. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 15, 2023
ISBN: 9781534111837
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
Share your opinion of this book
More In The Series
by Gauri Dalvi Pandya ; illustrated by Avani Dwivedi
by Meghana Narayan ; illustrated by Michelle Carlos
by Isabel Estrada ; illustrated by Addy Rivera Sonda
More by Monica Edinger
BOOK REVIEW
by Jennifer Ward ; illustrated by Steve Jenkins ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2014
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
Share your opinion of this book
More by Jennifer Ward
BOOK REVIEW
by Jennifer Ward ; illustrated by Alexander Vidal
BOOK REVIEW
by Jennifer Ward ; illustrated by Lisa Congdon
BOOK REVIEW
by Jennifer Ward ; illustrated by Diana Sudyka
by Ruth Behar & Gabriel Frye-Behar ; illustrated by Maribel Lechuga ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 12, 2023
A heartwarming reminder to embrace change.
A dog who belongs to an expecting couple adjusts to home life as a new baby arrives.
Pepita, the family pet, is beloved and still so little they call her Bebita (baby girl). But Pepita’s world is changing as her Mami and Papi await the arrival of a baby. Pepita is used to being spoiled “with treats and tummy rubs and my favorite fluffy pillow….But lately, things have been changing.” As the home gets new additions like a crib and gifts from the grandparents, Pepita feels left out, no longer the center of attention. Once the baby arrives, Pepita tries to adjust but is kept up at night by crying and doesn’t get playtime like before. But Pepita’s sweetness shines through as she finds ways to help out and bond with the new baby. “I feel so proud to be the big sister,” she concludes. The book is sprinkled with Spanish phrases, reflecting that Pepita is part of a Latine household; readers unfamiliar with Spanish will find the glossary helpful. Illustrations are warm and cuddly throughout, and the story is highly relatable; soon-to-be big siblings fretting over a new arrival will find it especially comforting. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A heartwarming reminder to embrace change. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023
ISBN: 9780593566985
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
Share your opinion of this book
More by Ruth Behar
BOOK REVIEW
by Ruth Behar
BOOK REVIEW
by Ruth Behar ; illustrated by Devon Holzwarth
BOOK REVIEW
by Ruth Behar
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
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.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.