by Mary Gustafson & illustrated by Dana Regan developed by ZunZun Books LLC ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2011
A quick (the read-aloud section clocks in at just under two minutes) but, overall, satisfying read.
A simple, rhyming text provides readers a glimpse of a confident little girl’s routine at home.
Displaying her independence, Emily, who appears about kindergarten age, guides readers through a typical day, running through the tasks she has mastered, such as putting away her toys and going potty all by herself. However, the colorful and endearing illustrations tell a different story, showing Emily leaving a trail of destruction behind her that ranges from an overflowing bathtub to a spaghetti-splattered floor. Despite Emily’s endearing can-do attitude, her patient mom makes several cameo appearances, including a final appearance in which Emily acknowledges that despite her independence that it is still nice to get tucked in for bed. Throughout Emily is accompanied by her loyal puppy sidekick, adding a layer of humor, as the puppy usually bears the brunt of Emily’s mistakes. Readers can opt to be read to by a spunky young narrator who speaks clearly over a folksy instrumental and syncs with simple repetitive animations, like tail wags and teeth brushing. The “read myself” version provides some interactivity with interspersed sound effects such as popping soap bubbles, squeaking toys and a crying baby sister.
A quick (the read-aloud section clocks in at just under two minutes) but, overall, satisfying read. (iPad storybook app. 3-5)Pub Date: July 24, 2011
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: ZunZun Books LLC
Review Posted Online: Sept. 26, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2011
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by Tom Percival ; illustrated by Tom Percival ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2018
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
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by Rachel Isadora ; illustrated by Rachel Isadora ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 14, 2017
If Black Lives Matter, they deserve more specificity than this.
A lushly illustrated picture book with a troubling message.
Little Lala walks with her father after his successful day of fishing. When Mama calls her home for bed, a host of “good night”s delays her: to the bird, the monkey, and even the rock. As Lala wanders through her village in the darkening twilight, readers appreciate its expansive beauty and Lala’s simple joys. Although it’s been artfully written and richly illustrated by an award-winning author of many multicultural stories, this book has problems that overshadow its beauty. “African veld” sets the story in southern Africa, but its vague locale encourages Americans to think that distinctions among African countries don’t matter. Lala wears braids or locks that stick straight up, recalling the 19th-century pickaninny, and her inconsistent skin color ranges from deep ebony like her father’s to light brown. Shadows may cause some of these differences, but if it weren’t for her identifiable hair, readers might wonder if the same child wanders from page to page. Perhaps most striking of all is Lala’s bedtime story: not an African tale but an American classic. While this might evoke nostalgia in some readers, it also suggests that southern Africa has no comparably great bedtime books for Lala, perhaps in part because American children’s literature dominates the world market.
If Black Lives Matter, they deserve more specificity than this. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-399-17384-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2016
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