A valuable and thorough resource.
A collection of 25 lullabies and nursery rhymes from countries and island nations in southeastern Africa is captured on CD and in print.
The book is more of a companion guide to the audio renditions of the songs than a stand-alone read. The first part simply introduces the songs’ titles in the language of origin, the country or countries from which they hail, and, in English, a dominant verse or chorus from the song. These spreads are illustrated with scenes reflecting the song’s themes, using bold primary colors as well as white, black, and green. On these pages, brown-skinned people dance, swim, cuddle babies, work, play, and sleep, while stylized animals, countryside, and plant life adorn other spreads. A second section of the book, with white text set against a rich blue background, explains the unique history and cultures of the region of the world stretching from Kenya to South Africa and including the so-called Vanilla Islands. A final section, on yellow paper, offers detailed background on each song in the collection and includes more of the lyrics in the original languages alongside English translations. Readers are sure to learn new facts about this part of the world while appreciating its mix of global cultures. The book is beautifully produced on thick, matte paper, and the diversity of musical styles produced is impressive.
A valuable and thorough resource. (Picture book/music. 2-7)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-2-925108-70-2
Page Count: 80
Publisher: The Secret Mountain
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2021
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
A muddled message shoots for the moon but never quite gets all the way off the ground.
A little mouse experiences BIG changes thanks to a spectacular talent.
Dee’s a singer to her core. She croons absolutely everywhere, so when her teacher Miss Pink suggests that her students bring in something that symbolizes what they enjoy doing, Dee brings in a song. As she sings it, however, her joy causes her to physically grow huge! At first this makes her feel special, but as the day goes on she feels lonely and out of place. Shrinking back to her normal size, she worries that this means she can never sing again. But thanks to the encouragement of her mother and little sister, she realizes that being special is nothing to be ashamed of. However, though her classmates have skills of their own, only Dee changes, indicating that some talents are more transformative than others. After all, while everyone is enthralled by Dee, Ren the turtle’s talent for drawing a replica of a space station is something he “made everyone watch.” The true standout in this show comes from Sinquett’s dynamic art, capable of encompassing the emotional highs and lows of elementary school kids. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A muddled message shoots for the moon but never quite gets all the way off the ground. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-368-07806-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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