An infectiously gleeful celebration of art and being true to yourself.
A young iconoclast shakes things up.
Debut author Cho introduces us to the rambunctious Olive Chen, who lives in an orderly, monochromatic town and enjoys splattering, smearing, and licking paint to create exuberantly colorful masterpieces. Olive believes that she is the “most magnificent and brilliant artist in the whole wide world.” Her parents, on the other hand, have their doubts. Serious artists, they wonder when Olive will paint perfectly precise squares and triangles just like them. They send her to art class, but even after a year of lessons Olive does not paint any shapes. She does, however, find admirers among her classmates, who ask her to teach them her trademark style. Together, they envelop the town with an explosion of color, all the way to her parents’ museum….This humorous tale has an undeniable charm and serves as a reminder to serious adults of the wonderful possibilities of embracing new ways of thinking and doing. Cho perfectly captures the pure effervescent joy of children creating art with her vibrant use of color and Olive’s wide-mouthed, exaggerated expressions as she romps about. Readers will enjoy poring over the small details and stories hidden within the town before, during, and after the color transformation. Olive and her parents are cued Chinese; her classmates are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An infectiously gleeful celebration of art and being true to yourself. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2023
ISBN: 9780063237490
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2023
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind.
When Mom and Dad bring baby Rasheed home for the first time, it’s love at first sight for big brother Anthony.
As the boys grow, Anthony teaches his little sibling how to build a tower with blocks (and how to knock it down with a loud “WHOP!!!”), how to ride a bike, and even how to fly (through a well-timed leap from the swings). When thunder and lightning wake them both one night, Anthony assuages Rasheed’s fears with the book’s titular refrain: “I got you.” But one day Anthony goes for a bike ride with his friends, leaving Rasheed alone and hurt. That night, Anthony explains that while he may spend time with his peers, his bond with Rasheed is unbreakable. And as the book comes to a close, with Mom and Dad introducing the boys to their new little sibling, Anthony leaves Rasheed with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to be a supportive big brother himself. Narrated by Rasheed, Barnes’ text is elegant in its simplicity, loving yet never saccharine, and always emotionally honest. Using varied perspectives, Knight-Justice’s richly hued, collagelike digital illustrations combine a patchwork of textures and patterns, immersing readers in this affectionate Black family’s world. Greens and blues dominate the pages, bringing to life an idyllic suburban setting.
Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9780593111451
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
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