Sporting a black business-suit onesie, this baby looks and acts more like a balding CEO than an infant. He keeps his parents hard at work, calling endless meetings, demanding increases in output and scowling as his employees buckle under pressure. Nostalgic pencil-and-watercolor drawings recall mid-20th-century furnishings, clothes and hairstyles. This retro aesthetic serves as a perfect office space for the boss baby, who enjoys the perks of an old-school exec: a big desk (exersaucer), lounge (lambskin rug), spa (sink tubby), endless drinks (bottles) and a private jet (airplane swing). The parents’ weak, watery eyes communicate a bottomless desire to please their tiny tyrant, who grimaces, growls and cocks his brow in dissatisfaction. Young readers will cackle at Frazee’s reversal of power. Just when the boss baby borders on brutal, though, he employs new tactics to motivate the staff: “Ma-ma? Da-da?” The ecstatic parents jump with glee, ready for the next challenge. This wry picture book will appeal to parents, of course, but also to siblings who see a new baby demand so much of mom and dad’s time and energy. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Aug. 31, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0167-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: June 14, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2010
A warm, heartfelt ode to Diwali and the joys of family.
An Indian American girl and her family prepare to celebrate a beloved holiday.
For Devi, Diwali is one of the best times of the year. She loves the colors, decorations, and food; Diwali is her “time to shine.” But as her family notes, before she can celebrate, she has to clean her room in preparation for the arrival of the goddess Lakshmi. After Devi is done, she watches her Nani (grandmother) and her father make puris and besan ladoos for the whole family to enjoy during the holiday. She’s particularly excited that she gets to try on all of the new clothes Nani brought for her from India for the days of celebration. Everyone celebrates Diwali in different ways, Devi notes, and she explains that she and her family “wrap up our ladoos in fancy boxes and deliver them to people we love” before throwing a party in their apartment. Neighbors stop by, curious about the festivities, and the family invites them to join in. Mirchandani’s simple, elegant text explains the holiday, vividly bringing to life a family that loves coming together to share traditions, while Kelkar’s bold use of color (particularly shades of purple, blue, and green) makes the illustrations pop. Characters—diverse in skin tone—are cartoonish, placed against backdrops that use attractive textures and patterns. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A warm, heartfelt ode to Diwali and the joys of family. (author's and illustrator's notes) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 20, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-33933-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: July 12, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2022
Together, Díaz and Espinosa present an imaginative, purposeful narrative about identity and belonging.
A young girl’s homework assignment unravels the history and beauty of her homeland.
Lola and her classmates are assigned to draw pictures of their respective origin countries. With excitement, the others begin sharing what they will draw: pyramids, a long canal, a mongoose. Lola, concerned, doesn’t remember what life was like on the Island, and so she recruits her whole neighborhood. There is Leticia, her cousin; Mrs. Bernard, who sells the crispy empanadas; Leticia’s brother Jhonathan, a barber; her mother; her abuela; and their gruff building superintendent. With every description, Lola learns something new: about the Island’s large bats, mangoes, colorful people, music and dancing everywhere, the beaches and sea life, and devastating hurricanes. Espinosa’s fine, vibrant illustrations dress the story in colorful cacophony and play with texture (hair especially) as Lola conjures images of her homeland. While the story does not identify the Island by name, readers familiar with Díaz’s repertoire will instantly identify it as the Dominican Republic, a conclusion that’s supported when the super recalls the Monster (Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo), and sharp-eyed readers should look at the magnets on Lola’s refrigerator. Lola, Teresa Mlawer’s translation, is just as poignant as the original.
Together, Díaz and Espinosa present an imaginative, purposeful narrative about identity and belonging. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: March 13, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-7352-2986-0
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2018
SEEN & HEARD
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