A warm hug of a picture book wishing all children happy, fulfilled, and meaningful lives.
A picture book filled with positive messages for young children.
From the first “I wish you” page of this picture book to the last, the author of Bedtime for Picco Puppy and other books in the Picco Puppy picture book series (2019) offers children words of encouragement and inspiration, complemented by a gifted artist’s charming illustrations. “I wish you dreams and aspirations, to spread your wings and reach for the stars,” the book begins. On the page, against a deep blue starry sky, a little brown-haired girl steadies a ladder for a blond boy in a space helmet who is reaching for the moon. Children of different races frolic in a snowy wood to illustrate “I wish you joy and laughter, to laugh long and loud until you gasp for breath.” A little Black girl in a wheelchair and a light-skinned boy share an ice cream cone on a leafy autumn day to illustrate “I wish you kindness and generosity, for no act of kindness is ever wasted, no matter how small.” Each “wish” is stated with graceful simplicity; each colorful illustration matches that tone and delights the eye. Two end-of-book features invite children to go back through the pages: “Can You Spot the Famous People?” highlights pictures of some of the book’s characters as if they are child versions of such well-known figures as Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong, and NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, accompanying each name with a short bio. “Can You Spot the Dog?” identifies each dog in the book with its breed.
A warm hug of a picture book wishing all children happy, fulfilled, and meaningful lives.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-925973-12-9
Page Count: 38
Publisher: Picco Puppy
Review Posted Online: Nov. 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A mind-stretching outlook that may help youngsters with change—and will certainly cause them to think.
A cyclical take on life.
Endings can sometimes feel sad or heavy in their finality. But Bender reverses this perspective. In fact, the story starts, as a tiny caterpillar tells readers, with “THE END.” A young tot on a bed closing a book looks puzzled. Bender acknowledges the absurdity. “But wait—how can a book possibly start with the end? That’s ridiculous.” It’s not, once you change your frame of reference. Continuing in a conversational tone, Bender gives examples. Some are personal and immediate: “The end of a disagreement with someone … / is just the beginning of making up.” Others are more abstract: “When you count, the end of one number is just the beginning of the next number… / and so on and so on and so on, all the way to infinity, which, by the way, NEVER ends!” Two friends or perhaps siblings (one with brown skin and brown hair in two Afro puffs, the other with pale skin and straight, black hair) act out the scenarios, which are strung together over the course of a day from one morning to the next. Mayo’s illustrations also dance between concrete and abstract, illustrating disagreement with one kid scowling, sitting back to the other, who looks distressed, next to a ruined sand castle and infinity with an image of the two kids cycling along an enormous infinity sign. In a meta-infused closing, Bender concludes with “THE BEGINNING / (of discovering the next book).” A cleverly placed butterfly flits away. The hazy wash over muted tones gives a warm, cozy embrace to the message. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 48.2% of actual size.)
A mind-stretching outlook that may help youngsters with change—and will certainly cause them to think. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 20, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-984896-93-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
Turns “us against them” on its head to celebrate the transformative joy found in diverse communities.
With a perfect (bunny) ear for what kids want, Willems employs his signature style as he encourages readers to forge connections.
Each spread is made up of two pages with different yet equally bright, solidly colored backdrops—a clever way to hint at divisions in our society. The opening pages show a bunny on the left-facing page and the words “i am ME” on the right. The next spread shows a second bunny, this time on the right-facing page, with the text “you are YOU” on the left. The page turn reveals the two creatures together on the left-facing page, accompanied by the text “we are US.” Each spread thereafter introduces new bunnies on the right-facing page who join the existing characters, affirming a unifying message: “whoa! More US!” While the bunnies do express apprehension about the newcomers, some of whom have obvious differences (such as the use of mobility aids or varied fur colors or styles of dress), everyone is welcome. Though this title explores a complex topic—the importance of cultivating bonds even with those who appear different—it’s amazingly attuned to its audience. The text is minimal, but the consistently uncluttered art design makes the message clear. Hinting at P.D. Eastman’s classic Go, Dog. Go! or the busy pages of Richard Scarry's, this tale blends whimsy and delight with a thoughtful but never preachy takeaway.
Turns “us against them” on its head to celebrate the transformative joy found in diverse communities. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781454951490
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2025
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