Well-intentioned but indirect and clunky.
Anxiety hinders a child.
Olivia, a peach-skinned kid with a brown bob cut, narrates in a direct first-person voice. She lists the things she possesses—a bicycle, red shoes adorned with stars, a soft plush lion, and “vines.” The thorny vines, wrapping around her body, are a metaphor for anxiety. They are brought on by being late, going to the dentist, talking with strangers, anticipatory fear of adults’ anger, and sometimes “NOTHING AT ALL!” Despite Olivia’s helpful teacher, the vines are exhausting and prevent Olivia from moving freely, doing math, and jumping off the diving board at the pool. Although the characters’ facial expressions are crystal clear, the text never decodes the vines as representing anxiety. The prose, including Olivia’s introduction about her bike, shoes, and stuffed animal, may prompt young readers to think that physical vines are causing Olivia’s stress. Forced textual playfulness in the teacher’s nicknames for the students (“my little monkey in flip-flops” and “my little chocolate frog”) is jarring and inorganic. The illustrations bring nothing special and, bizarrely, include the stuffed lion in a group of people Olivia imagines mocking her. Moreover, vine-wrapped Olivia’s self-chosen label as “a big, spiky ball that no one wants to be near” will sting readers who have anxiety. Reach for Anthony Browne’s What If…? (2014) and Patrick McDonnell’s A Perfectly Messed-Up Story (2014) instead.
Well-intentioned but indirect and clunky. (activities) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-4598-3103-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2021
A fresh take on an enduring theme.
When Irie tells her momma she hates her big poofy hair, her momma explains that everything about Irie was perfectly custom made.
Irie wants her hair to swing and bounce like the “pretty hair” that “everyone else” has. But Momma tells her that she didn’t make Irie to be like everyone else. “I made you to be you.” Momma explains that when she was expecting Irie, she talked to God and made special requests. Out of all the skin tones in the world, Momma chose her favorite for Irie. The same for her hair type, her sparkling eyes, her kissable nose, and her bright smile. Momma also chose a good heart for Irie, and when she was born, she was perfect, and as she grew, she was kind. When Momma tells her “you are all of my favorite things,” Irie runs to the mirror and sees herself with new eyes: a “most perfect me.” This sweet, imaginative tale highlights the importance of parental love in boosting children’s self-esteem and will be a touching read-aloud for families who have struggled with issues of fitting in. The story is a challenging one to illustrate; the full-color digital art is warm with soft shades of natural-looking color but struggles to create engaging scenes to accompany Momma’s explanation of her conversation with God. The multiple spreads showing Irie and Momma flying through the atmosphere among clouds, stars, and hearts become a bit monotonous and lack depth of expression. Characters are Black. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A fresh take on an enduring theme. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 3, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-42694-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
The writing isn’t stellar, but the love depicted between the titular characters sure is.
A father and his daughter share a day full of love, play, and imagination.
The pair, described as the ultimate “daddy-daughter / power-combo superhero team,” do everything together on their special day: sip morning smoothies, play basketball, splash in the rain, and even attend a protest. Readers see a father who isn’t afraid to wear his dreadlocks in a bow, attend a tea party, or pretend to be a princess. He freely follows his daughter’s lead, breaking apart misguided stereotypes of how fathers are supposed to interact with girl children. Duchess’ illustrations center a Black father—who wears a kente shirt—and daughter and include background characters who are racially diverse, including one wearing a hijab and another with skin depigmentation. The closeness and mutual admiration between dad and daughter look and feel realistic, whether it’s the way Dad gazes at his daughter thoughtfully or tucks her gently into bed. One gets the feeling that this dynamic duo is unstoppable, that they can be whomever they want to be, and that their bond is magical. The bright digital artwork buoys the sometimes-rhyming text, which, while sweet, makes for a stilted read-aloud with phrasing that is at times choppy with an uneven cadence. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
The writing isn’t stellar, but the love depicted between the titular characters sure is. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 3, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-05526-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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