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A NEW DAY FOR UMWELL THE GRAY

Name: A NEW DAY FOR UMWELL THE GRAY
Author: Nathaniel Jenks
ISBN: 9780884489443

by Nathaniel Jenks ; illustrated by Rebecca Evans ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 2, 2023

Spirited revelations.

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It’s another dull day…until something new happens.

William’s world, his thoughts, and even his clothes are gray. His aunt teases that one day his hair will turn gray, but he continues to mope, bored that everything is always the same. Then a girl in a purple raincoat appears at the window and introduces herself as Purple. Taken aback, William stumbles when she asks him his name (“Um…well”), so Purple calls him Umwell. A sort of Manic Pixie Dream Girl, Purple takes him on a walk through the trees and to the beach as she demonstrates how nothing, not the water in a stream or falling leaves, is ever precisely the same from one moment to the next. They fly kites, examine starfish, and discover how even people change from day to day. Jenks explores several related themes—the healing power of nature, coming out of a somber mood, altering one’s perspective—that all work in tandem here. Though the friendship is a bit one-sided, with Purple existing seemingly only to inspire William, it’s a tale that will have many readers opening their own eyes. Evans’ delicate illustrations use color to indicate how Purple has enriched William’s world. By the end, though the boy still sports his gray raincoat, the once monochromatic, grayish-blue world has filled with more vibrant hues. William presents Asian; Purple is Black. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Spirited revelations. (Picture book. 3-8)

Pub Date: May 2, 2023

ISBN: 9780884489443

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Tilbury House

Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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CARPENTER'S HELPER

by Sybil Rosen ; illustrated by Camille Garoche ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 16, 2021

Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.

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A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.

Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)

Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: March 16, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random

Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK AND RACER RED

From the Little Blue Truck series

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2025

A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.

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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)