An appealing story about remembering those whom one has lost.
A boy spends special time with family at the beach in Mettler’s picture book.
The story opens with Gus waking up, enticed by the smell of a pancake breakfast. At the table, Gus realizes that Mama has looked especially tired since Gus and his sister Willa-Mae’s father died. The pair spend lots of quality time with Pops, their grandfather, at the nearby beach on weekends. There, they hunt for shells, which Gus loves, and he thinks about the special connection that he shared with his dad. After saving an urchin, Gus looks at other shells with characteristics that remind him of his family. A protective conch for Mama, a “White Baby Ear” for Willa-Mae, and angel wings for Daddy. After a snack, Gus and Willa-Mae find a beautiful scallop shell for the very first time before beginning a thoughtful journey home. Overall, this story is about living with and processing grief in everyday moments. It effectively explains the importance of holding on to happy memories of someone while also understanding that they’re no longer in one’s life. Eckstrom’s sweet watercolor illustrations ably convey the joy that the children feel when spending time with Pops. The text contains references to religion (prayer-like, God, Heaven), which may prompt questions and additional conversation.
An appealing story about remembering those whom one has lost.Pub Date: June 27, 2023
ISBN: 9798985793024
Page Count: 38
Publisher: Elyon Books
Review Posted Online: June 20, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators.
Existing artwork from an artistic giant inspires a fairy-tale reimagination by a master of the horror genre.
In King’s interpretation of a classic Brothers Grimm story, which accompanies set and costume designs that the late Sendak created for a 1997 production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera, siblings Hansel and Gretel survive abandonment in the woods and an evil witch’s plot to gobble them up before finding their “happily ever after” alongside their father. Prose with the reassuring cadence of an old-timey tale, paired with Sendak’s instantly recognizable artwork, will lull readers before capitalizing on these creators’ knack for injecting darkness into seemingly safe spaces. Gaping faces loom in crevices of rocks and trees, and a gloomy palette of muted greens and ocher amplify the story’s foreboding tone, while King never sugarcoats the peach-skinned children’s peril. Branches with “clutching fingers” hide “the awful enchanted house” of a “child-stealing witch,” all portrayed in an eclectic mix of spot and full-bleed images. Featuring insults that might strike some as harsh (“idiot,” “fool”), the lengthy, dense text may try young readers’ patience, and the often overwhelmingly ominous mood feels more pitched to adults—particularly those familiar with King and Sendak—but an introduction acknowledges grandparents as a likely audience, and nostalgia may prompt leniency over an occasional disconnect between words and art.
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780062644695
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2025
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