An easy, breezy fashion-conscious way to learn colors, but it seems a little limited in its appeal, a throwback to an...
Mother-and-daughter outfits—a retro fashion idea that continues to be popular in some households.
Poppy informs readers: “One of my favorite things is when the colors of our clothes match.” With digital illustrations that look as if they originated as collages, this color concept book introduces all the usual suspects, as well as several shades of blue and green, and even “multicolored” socks, that are “like swirly rainbows.” The layout of the double-page spreads with lots of white space is consistent, with slight variations. The emphasis on the mom figure is usually on her clothes, from the torso down; viewers see her face on only one page, where she wears “a jacket the color of the blue sea,” her face hidden behind “sunglasses big as dinner plates.” The type is easy to read, and a crayon scribble of the appropriate color always backgrounds the name of the color, printed in large, bold type. The clean look of the illustrations works well, especially in spreads such as the one devoted to “tangerine orange,” where Mommy’s shorts and Poppy’s “bicycle helmet matched!” The book breaks no new gender ground. In girly style, Poppy also imitates her mommy when she puts on “flamingo-feather blusher” and when she wears her mom’s extra beads. Both Mommy and Poppy present white.
An easy, breezy fashion-conscious way to learn colors, but it seems a little limited in its appeal, a throwback to an earlier time. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 6, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-9107-1658-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Boxer Books
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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 syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.
Another creature is on the loose.
The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781728274300
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
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