A downright delicious farm-to-table tale stuffed with delectable details.
The young protagonist of Dumplings for Lili (2021) helps the grandmothers in her apartment building harvest produce from their community garden in preparation for a celebration.
Lili, who is of Chinese descent, is excited to pick strawberries from her garden plot to share at the upcoming block party. Her Nai Nai (Mandarin for Grandmother) is busy making fried rice and asks Lili to water the plants and bring back some green onions. Lili’s mother gives her some banana peels to feed “Mr. Nibbles.” (Readers curious about the enigmatic Mr. Nibbles will be rewarded by book’s end.) As Lili works, Abuela, another grandmother, visits, asking Lili to pick some tomatoes so she can make arroz roja—and reminding her to check for pests. More grandmothers appear, each saying hello in her native language, asking for an item from the garden for a dish she’s preparing and help with a chore, and offering something for Mr. Nibbles. The ensuing party is a joyous gathering with every grandmother bringing a rice-based dish from her culture. Lili and her world, rendered in soft colors and thin-lined details, are as charming and adorable as in her first outing. The repetitive parallel construction of the story allows Iwai to pack in a lot more information than she did in her earlier book, but the sense of community still shines above all. And Mr. Nibbles? He’s a compost tumbler—explained in Iwai’s copious backmatter.
A downright delicious farm-to-table tale stuffed with delectable details. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 12, 2026
ISBN: 9781324082187
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Norton Young Readers
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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
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