Three children visit a local hospital for different reasons to help kids learn about medical care and personnel.
Emmy accompanies her mom for a regular maternity checkup that ends up with her mom going into labor and giving birth to her new brother. Leo arrives with his dad. He broke his arm and must go to X-ray and then gets a cast and a sling. Annabelle comes with her mom for a regular pediatric visit and a shot. These racially diverse kids visit a large hospital with lots of specialized (and similarly diverse) personnel, all of whom are pictured and labeled with their official titles. On some pages, the positions are defined. Some of the medical equipment is also labeled and defined, including the ultrasound equipment showing Emmy’s baby brother and the X-ray machine used to diagnose Leo’s arm. Pictures of these images will be of great interest to many young viewers. While the stylized illustrations thoroughly document the workings of this hospital and the narrative story about these three children could be interesting, these elements are undermined by the sheer volume of information that is being presented. The kids all look pretty young, and community-helper units are usually done in early-elementary grades. The specificity of the job titles (otolaryngologist, endocrinologist, cardiovascular nurse) and the large number of employees both mentioned and pictured create a mismatch between book and audience. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Accurate but overstuffed. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 12, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-06-308139-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
Categories: CHILDREN'S HEALTH & DAILY LIVING
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Energetic and earnest but not groundbreaking.
10
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Unlikely friends Bear and Rabbit face fears together.
The anthropomorphic creatures set out on an adventure. Graphic-based illustrations give the book a Pixar movie feel, with a variety of page layouts that keep the story moving. Large blocks of black text are heavy on dialogue patterns as timid Bear and bold Rabbit encounter obstacles. Bear fears every one of them, from the stream to the mountain. He’ll do anything to avoid the objects of terror: taking a bus, a train, and even a helicopter. As Rabbit asks Bear if he’s frightened, Bear repeatedly responds, “I’m not scared, you’re scared!” and children will delight in the call-and-response opportunities. Adults may tire of the refrain, but attempts to keep everyone entertained are evident in asides about Bear's inability to brush food from his teeth (he’s too afraid to look at himself in the mirror) and Rabbit's superstrong ears (which do come in handy later). When Rabbit finds herself in danger after Bear defects on the adventure, Bear retraces the trip. Along the way, he notes that the stream wasn't as deep, nor the mountain as high, as he thought when he was scared. While picture-book shelves may not be screaming for another comedically sweet bear story, especially one that treads such familiar territory, many readers will appreciate this tale of overcoming fears. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Energetic and earnest but not groundbreaking. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: March 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35237-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2022
Categories: CHILDREN'S HEALTH & DAILY LIVING | CHILDREN'S ANIMALS
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A young girl models mindfulness as she savors each moment.
This charming and vibrant picture book opens in Tisha’s backyard, where she is reaching skyward as falling blossoms float toward her. Her joy and anticipation are disrupted by a series of “hurry up” commands from those around her, who prod her to rush for the school bus, attend an assembly, and make sure that she doesn’t miss lunch. The externally imposed directions conflict with Tisha’s natural curiosity, which compels her not only to “listen to the sounds” and to count the spots on a ladybug she finds during recess, but also to create connections between a book she finds about space and the space shuttle she imagines but cannot finish drawing because “it’s time to put the crayons away.” When Tisha requests “a little slowdown,” she and Mommy decide to walk home and play “How Many?” along the way; they also snuggle on a park bench and name all the pigeons. What began as a harried day ends on an idyllic note with a family picnic under flowering trees; when the wind blows, Tisha can catch a blossom at last. Artful and striking illustrations produce a multitude of visual textures that delineate individual blooms, sketch Tisha’s neighborhood, render colorful yet subtle details of characters and clothing, and deliver painterly impressions. Tisha and her family are tan-skinned with dark hair; her classmates are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A sweet reminder to pause and ponder life’s everyday wonders. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: May 17, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5362-2198-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: April 12, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2022
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