Nice for family sharing.
Using her large imagination, a little girl shows how much she loves her busy big sister.
Lizzie wants nothing more than to be and play with her big sister, Jane, who, Lizzie tells readers, has “the best imagination.” Alas, Jane’s also got a lot going on, what with her busy (arguably overprogrammed) schedule: in addition to homework and play dates with a friend, there are lessons and practice sessions in soccer, ballet, karate, and piano. What’s a sad, lonely sibling to do? Finally Lizzie hits on a plan to capture Jane’s attention and her precious time in a really spectacular way. The charming, expressive, digitally rendered illustrations follow Jane’s daily activities on double-page spreads while depicting Lizzie painstakingly portraying each day’s routines in picture-story form. On the appointed day, Lizzie amasses and displays her week’s artworks on and around several walls, to Jane’s amazement. But, unbeknownst to Lizzie, Jane has secretly created a wonderful surprise for her sibling as well. The sisters are white, but Sánchez places a multiracial bevy of children and adults in Jane’s many activities. While thin and exploring a well-trod concept—each sister’s unbreakable bond of love for the other—the telling is sweet, upbeat, and refreshing in presenting not a hint of rivalry or meanness. Young readers who enjoy loving sibling relationships in their own families will appreciate finding common ground here and may even pick up an idea or two.
Nice for family sharing. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 13, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4814-3795-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 19, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2017
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
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
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