A simple, upbeat travel adventure.
Two young sisters enjoy a fun vacation in Mexico in this children’s board book.
An unnamed narrator tells her younger sister about their upcoming trip to Mexico. As the blond, blue-eyed, light-skinned sisters pack their suitcases, the narrator describes what they will experience on their excursion. For example, she says that in Mexico, they will “wear sombreros and take them home,” and on arrival, their family will be “greeted with drinks.” The older sister also explains how they will examine local plant and animal life and even meet creatures like a coatimundi and an iguana. The girl assures her younger sister that she will adore new things such as a quesadilla, “just melted cheese inside a tortilla.” The rhyme here is sparse and lively. In this third installment of a series, Howard’s cheerful text includes some Spanish words and phrases: “The cabana is a great place to take a siesta.” The straightforward travel story doesn’t delve into Mexico’s rich culture and history. It consists of the sisters’ brief explorations of both the environmental and sightseeing aspects of the country and regular vacation pursuits, such as buying souvenirs and lunching on the beach. Featuring Rouaux’s cartoonlike illustrations, the tale portrays the characters with big, round eyes. The colorful, sunny images mostly mirror happenings in the text, showing the sisters participating in typical tourist activities. For example, when the siblings “dance to music and the loud ocean waves,” they are depicted shaking maracas.
A simple, upbeat travel adventure.Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-951317-17-1
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Weeva
Review Posted Online: July 12, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Warm but underdone.
In this picture book from actor Gyllenhaal and his partner, Caruso, a child and his uncle bond on a fantastic journey.
Leo, an avid dancer, is dismayed when Uncle Mo visits—he’s in town for a “rubber band convention.” Illustrations show both with wavy brown hair and light tan skin. Not only does Leo think his uncle is rather dull, he’s also leery of Uncle Mo’s many rules. A rather abrupt narrative shift occurs when the pair inexplicably drive into another dimension. Here they encounter Great-Aunt Gloria (who is very tall and presents Black) and Uncle Munkle Carbunkle (who is very short and light-skinned), who guide them through the Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles. Unimpressed with Uncle Mo, Great-Aunt Gloria says he must take a quiz on “Auntieology and Uncleology.” After several wrong answers, Uncle Mo has a final chance at redemption: He must state his nephew’s favorite activity. When Leo springs into action to dance for his clueless uncle, a mishap leaves him mortified and un-bespectacled. Enter Uncle Mo to save the day by using a rubber band to secure Leo’s glasses. While Santat’s energetic illustrations do much to clarify the narrative, they can’t fully make up for the disjointed storytelling—it’s never clear why the two have entered this dimension or why Leo is suddenly so eager to help Uncle Mo. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Warm but underdone. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781250776990
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
The combination of lovingly humorous and detailed mixed-media illustrations and infectious rhymes will cause little ones and...
More than skin deep, this rhyming paean to diversity offers readers an array of families of all colors and orientations, living and loving one another in a vibrant city setting.
A giggling baby is tummy-tickled by her white and black mothers (or white mother and black father—impressively, the illustration leaves room for interpretation) in New York’s Central Park in its summertime glory. "This is how we all begin: / small and happy in our skin." This celebration of skin not only extols the beauty and value of various skin colors, but also teaches the importance of skin as an essential body part: “It keeps the outsides out / and your insides in.” Park, public-pool, and block-party scenes allow readers to luxuriate in a teeming city where children of all colors, abilities, and religions enjoy their families and neighbors. The author and illustrator do not simply take a rote, tokenistic approach to answering the cry for diverse books; the words and pictures depict a much-needed, realistic representation of the statement “it takes a village to raise a child” when a child skins her knee and many rush to her aid and comfort. Though her palette of browns is a little limited, Tobia creates sheer joy with her depictions of everything from unibrows, dimples, and birthmarks to callouts to recognizable literary characters.
The combination of lovingly humorous and detailed mixed-media illustrations and infectious rhymes will cause little ones and their families to pore over this book again and again. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-7002-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 11, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2015
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
