A cheerful but uneven celebration of music with simple vocabulary and repeated phrases.
A young girl takes her first piano lesson in this rhyming picture-book sequel.
Three-year-old Maya walks with her family to piano lessons, where teacher Miss Corrie introduces middle C. Maya is fascinated by the instrument: “Excited! / Maya, really wanted to learn. / She could not wait / Until her turn.” When Maya gets up to the piano, she sees a bumblebee sticker on the middle C. She pushes the key and makes up a song, which she sings and practices at home, entertaining her whole family. The rhymes by the author, who uses the pen name Maya and Jello, scan well, especially when emphasis is added (“en-TRANC-ing”). The frequent refrain of Maya’s song, which has basic, repetitive lyrics, will allow lap readers to chime in and say the words. But the lyrics, which are about not touching middle C, seem to contradict the story, in which Maya plays the note with gusto. Gustyawan’s digital cartoon illustrations feature a wonderfully expressive Maya and expand the cast to include the brown-skinned Miss Corrie and two pale-skinned piano students. (Maya and her family have brown skin and dark curly hair.) Single page images pair with text-only pages featuring a dark background, white text, and a one-color highlight or rainbow music notes.
A cheerful but uneven celebration of music with simple vocabulary and repeated phrases.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 39
Publisher: M&J Literary Works Inc
Review Posted Online: Oct. 19, 2020
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
A lushly illustrated homage to librarians who provide a welcome and a home away from home for all who enter.
A love letter to libraries.
A Black child, with hair in two puffballs tied with yellow ribbons, a blue dress with a Peter Pan collar, and black patent leather Mary Janes, helps Grandmother with the housework, then, at Grandmother’s suggestion, heads to the library. The child’s eagerness to go, with two books under an arm and one in their hand, suggests that this is a favorite destination. The books’ wordless covers emphasize their endless possibilities. The protagonist’s description of the library makes clear that they are always free to be themselves there—whether they feel happy or sad, whether they’re reading mysteries or recipes, and whether they feel “quick and smart” or “contained and cautious.” Robinson’s vibrant, carefully composed digital illustrations, with bright colors that invite readers in and textures and patterns in every image, effectively capture the protagonist’s passion for reading and appreciation for a space where they feel accepted regardless of disposition. In her author’s note, Giovanni states that she spent summers visiting her grandmother in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she went to the Carnegie Branch of the Lawson McGhee Library. She expresses gratitude for Mrs. Long, the librarian, who often traveled to the main library to get books that Giovanni could not find in their segregated branch. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A lushly illustrated homage to librarians who provide a welcome and a home away from home for all who enter. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-358-38765-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Versify/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
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