While it’s not a profound look at mixed-race identity, it is a playful one, and readers will enjoy the cultural examination...
East meets West and they have a baby dragon in this fantasy from Newbery Medalist Park.
With a father from the “East” and a mother from the “West,” young dragon Gondra deftly narrates she was born “somewhere in the middle.” Portrayed with zany proportions, including bulging eyes encircled with purple eyelids and red tendrils sprouting from her ears, nose, chin, and tail, Gondra carries her stuffed cow in tow as she quizzes her parents on the range of abilities between them. “Both of my parents can fly. Mom has wings. Dad uses magic.” Bantering back and forth, each parent describes the differences of their traits. Dad has an elongated wingless body in line with Asian dragons, while Mom follows the European style with wings and a shorter body. Gondra is then left to examine her own characteristics, wondering exactly where she stands in the family and how that differs from history. When she asks about dragon treasure, both parents lovingly remind her of her own intrinsic value. Park lightly touches on themes of interracial families, with the dragon folklore occupying the foreground. Reinhardt is bold in her choices of watercolors, pairing them with busy textures to bring a quirky flair to the tale and including humorous details to complement the narration.
While it’s not a profound look at mixed-race identity, it is a playful one, and readers will enjoy the cultural examination of dragons. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 2, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-544-54669-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2019
This is one entertaining and silly way to do math.
Addition and subtraction with cruciferous-named dragons.
“High on a mountain near a deep dark cave,” 100 dragons fly, swoop, play, and blow fire across the pages. Though they vary by shape, color, and size, the fiery creatures all go by the name of Broccoli. A blistering wind blows away half of the dragons, leaving 50. Soon after, 10 dragons decide to go on a cruise and become “professional surfers in Hawaii.” The number of dragons rises and falls as a series of non sequitur events—and opportunities for readers to practice their addition and subtraction—continue: “5 dragons took a rocket to the moon. 2 of the dragons from West Virginia returned.” The total number left is in bold within the spare narrative. While the pace and the emotional tone stay even throughout the story, Cho’s colorful portrayals offer comedic magic and flair. Readers will be captivated by the antics of each Broccoli. The pudgy dragons’ quirky expressions will elicit plenty of giggles. Eventually only one red Broccoli is left, solemnly retreating into the cave for the winter. It is spring that welcomes Broccoli back, followed by 100 baby dragons. This time none of the infants are named Broccoli, with only one chubby exception. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
This is one entertaining and silly way to do math. (Math picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-525-55544-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2023
Weathers heavy themes with breezy sensitivity…and unicorns!
Emotional storm clouds come between two unicorn friends.
Harking back to Not Quite Narwhal (2017) in both cast and tone, Sima offers a friendship tale in which Kelp’s close and aptly named pal Nimbus acquires a dark little cloud that rains when she feels down. The more she tries to ignore it or bottle it up, the bigger it gets…until it finally breaks out in a storm that sends her fleeing all company to huddle alone in a gloomy forest. There, she discovers that recognizing and getting to know the cloud actually makes it shrink—and just as she’s feeling a bit better, Kelp gallops into view, which sets the stage for a joyful reunion depicted in the sweet, softly hued illustrations with an exuberant rainbow swirl. Kelp, who turns out to be “a very good listener,” acknowledges the cloud matter-of-factly, and Nimbus comes to understand that though she may have up days and down days to come, weathering the latter with an accepting friend will make them easier. If some young readers subject to or familiar with similar storms (or a bit foggy on what a metaphor is) need explanation or discussion about depression to clear the air, the comforting message nonetheless shines brightly. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Weathers heavy themes with breezy sensitivity…and unicorns! (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9781665916981
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 7, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2023
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