An inspiring, beautifully illustrated, if occasionally uneven, portrayal of inner strength.
A young child goes on a magical adventure to find his self-confidence.
Elliot is ready to end the day and go to bed, but his adventures are just beginning. As he falls asleep, the young Black boy finds himself transported to a dark, lonely wood. He is so scared that he begins to cry, only stopping when he hears a mysterious voice whisper his name through the trees. It isn’t until a moment later that the voice, which sounds like his mother, tells him, “Say what you have, you’ll have what you say. You have just what you need to find your way.” At first, Elliot doesn’t understand this message; he feels as lost as ever. Slowly, a mantra of his mother’s comes to mind (“Words are magic!”), and he realizes that he has the power to conjure light, a compass, and more to help guide him back to his parents’ loving arms. The lessons Elliot learns are that he must believe in himself, and that the answers to his problems have been within him all along. However, because Elliot’s self-doubt wasn’t adequately established in the beginning of the story, the impact of this triumph is somewhat diminished. Still, his realization is powerful, and his actions are well supported by the illustrations (credited to RIPE Publishing House) that exquisitely depict the sylvan night and the family’s radiant love. The play between light and dark brings out Elliot’s own luminosity as he learns to believe in himself, while small marks indicating movement bring energy to the page. This is Jackson’s first literary work for children and would best be shared with preschool and kindergarten fans of books like I Am Every Good Thing (2020).
An inspiring, beautifully illustrated, if occasionally uneven, portrayal of inner strength.Pub Date: April 20, 2023
ISBN: 9798987911402
Page Count: 40
Publisher: RIPE Publishing House
Review Posted Online: April 20, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2023
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
Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind.
When Mom and Dad bring baby Rasheed home for the first time, it’s love at first sight for big brother Anthony.
As the boys grow, Anthony teaches his little sibling how to build a tower with blocks (and how to knock it down with a loud “WHOP!!!”), how to ride a bike, and even how to fly (through a well-timed leap from the swings). When thunder and lightning wake them both one night, Anthony assuages Rasheed’s fears with the book’s titular refrain: “I got you.” But one day Anthony goes for a bike ride with his friends, leaving Rasheed alone and hurt. That night, Anthony explains that while he may spend time with his peers, his bond with Rasheed is unbreakable. And as the book comes to a close, with Mom and Dad introducing the boys to their new little sibling, Anthony leaves Rasheed with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to be a supportive big brother himself. Narrated by Rasheed, Barnes’ text is elegant in its simplicity, loving yet never saccharine, and always emotionally honest. Using varied perspectives, Knight-Justice’s richly hued, collagelike digital illustrations combine a patchwork of textures and patterns, immersing readers in this affectionate Black family’s world. Greens and blues dominate the pages, bringing to life an idyllic suburban setting.
Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9780593111451
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
© 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.
