Luminous illustrations do the heavy lifting to light up the somber story.
A young girl is excited to spend time with her grandmother over Diwali.
Diya’s family moved to the United States and is now planning a trip back to India to celebrate Diwali. Diya is looking forward to seeing her grandmother (Nani) after moving to a new town and struggling to make new friends. Her classmates don’t know much about Diwali and can’t understand why she is going away for three weeks. After a long trip of over 7,000 miles, Diya is reunited with Nani and is fully immersed in Diwali preparations. As they shop and make sweets, Diya shares stories of her new school with Nani. Sensing how hard things are for Diya, Nani advises her to believe in herself and encourages her to brighten the light within herself and dispel the darkness. Diya takes in her advice along with heaps of gifts for her friends on her return. The illustrations glow in a soft light that depicts Diya’s family in warm brown tones; colorful Diwali lanterns; bustling Indian bazaars; delectable sweets; and sparkly night skies lit up with fireworks. However, the story’s themes of alienation and belonging remain unexplored, and Diya’s focus on trying to win over her classmates overshadows her moments of joy and celebration. Though her grandmother’s advice is heartfelt, none of it feels memorable. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Luminous illustrations do the heavy lifting to light up the somber story. (author’s note, glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9781542039123
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Two Lions
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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