Tenderly encouraging, with a message of hope and resilience.
Courage takes on many forms.
A nameless protagonist with straight brown hair and light tan skin describes the many impressive things their mom does. The mother, who has short dark brown hair and tan skin, can lift the narrator up with “rocket-booster arms” so the child “can soar through the sky,” and she “opens the applesauce jar without making a funny face.” But the mother is also sick: “sicker than bubblegum medicine can fix. She tries different treatments now, hoping one day they will make her feel better.” As the story proceeds, the mother catches scary spiders in jars and wrangles a largemouth bass, but she also spends time in the hospital and “battles fatigue, aches, and pains before her feet hit the floor each day.” As a result, the protagonist sometimes feels scared and even cries. Thankfully, their supportive mom reminds them that “being strong doesn’t mean you can’t cry,” and “being brave doesn’t mean you’re never scared.” It’s an important lesson, one supported by colorful and engaging illustrations that capture the good moments and the not-so-good ones. In an author’s note, Acker mentions that the mother character was based on her sister-in-law, who died of cancer in 2020, but the story never specifies the illness, making for a tale that will bolster many children with sick parents and caregivers. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Tenderly encouraging, with a message of hope and resilience. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5064-8320-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Beaming Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2022
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children.
Interior decorator and TV personality Gaines invites readers to open their eyes and exercise their imaginations.
There’s a world to be explored out there—and only children can really take part. What does “looking for wonder” entail? Slowing down and looking up, around, and everywhere. At the outset, a group of eager, racially diverse young friends—including one who uses a wheelchair—are fully prepared for a grand adventure. They offer tips about how and where to look: Why, there’s a “grand parade” of marching ants! And, these kids add, perspective is key. A rainy day might signal gloom to some, but to those filled with wonder, showers bring “magic puddles for play”; a forest is “an enchanted world,” the ocean conceals “a spectacular city,” and the night sky boasts “extraordinary sights.” The takeaway: “Wonder is never in short supply.” It’s a robust, empowering message, as is the exhortation to “keep your mind open, and let curiosity guide the way.” Youngsters are also advised to share their discoveries. The upbeat narrative is delivered in clunky verse, but the colorful cartoonish illustrations brimming with activity and good cheer (including some adorable anthropomorphized animals in the backgrounds) make up for the textual lapses and should motivate readers to embark on their own “wonder explorations.”
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9781400247417
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tommy Nelson
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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