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THE DOLL

Name: THE DOLL
Author: Nhung N. Tran-Davies
ISBN: 978-1-77260-165-7

by Nhung N. Tran-Davies ; illustrated by Ravy Puth ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 27, 2021

A touching, full-circle journey about the lasting impact of kindness.

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In a story inspired by events from the author’s life, a young Vietnamese refugee is welcomed to a new country with the unexpected gift of a doll.

This sweet gesture becomes a formative experience that symbolizes the acceptance of her family in their new home. When she grows up, becoming a doctor, the young woman reflects upon the compassion she received and becomes inspired to help other refugees. Taking action, she greets a new refugee family in an airport and gives a young girl the same doll that welcomed her many years ago. While the story highlights the act of paying it forward, the text betrays the main character by seemingly attributing her success in life to the singular moment of receiving the doll: “All that you have, and all that you have become are because of an act of kindness.” This troubling statement oversimplifies the refugee experience and robs the woman of resilience and agency. However, the overall message of the positive, rippling effect of generosity is not lost. Stamplike shading in dusky reds, browns, and blues evoke warmth and comfort in the illustrations. The refugees, both the original protagonist and those newly arrived, are depicted with dignity and quiet strength. The young woman and her family are Vietnamese, the refugee family she welcomes at the airport is cued as Middle Eastern.

A touching, full-circle journey about the lasting impact of kindness. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-9)

Pub Date: April 27, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-77260-165-7

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Second Story Press

Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2021

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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JUST BECAUSE

by Matthew McConaughey illustrated by Renée Kurilla ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 12, 2023

Charming and thought-provoking proof that we all contain multitudes.

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Oscar winner McConaughey offers intriguing life observations.

The series of pithy, wry comments, each starting with the phrase “Just because,” makes clear that each of us is a mass of contradictions: “Just because we’re friends, / doesn’t mean you can’t burn me. / Just because I’m stubborn, / doesn’t mean that you can’t turn me.” Witty, digitally rendered vignettes portray youngsters diverse in terms of race and ability (occasionally with pets looking on) dealing with everything from friendship drama to a nerve-wracking footrace. “Just because I’m dirty, / doesn’t mean I can’t get clean” is paired with an image of a youngster taking a bath while another character (possibly an older sibling) sits nearby, smiling. “Just because you’re nice, / doesn’t mean you can’t get mean” depicts the older one berating the younger one for tracking mud into the house. The artwork effectively brings to life the succinct, rhyming text and will help readers make sense of it. Perhaps, after studying the illustrations and gaining further insight into the comments, kids will reread and reflect upon them further. The final page unites the characters from earlier pages with a reassuring message for readers: “Just because the sun has set, / doesn’t mean it will not rise. / Because every day is a gift, / each one a new surprise. BELIEVE IT.” As a follow-up, readers should be encouraged to make their own suggestions to complete the titular phrase. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Charming and thought-provoking proof that we all contain multitudes. (Picture book. 5-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023

ISBN: 9780593622032

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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LILA GREER, TEACHER OF THE YEAR

From the Questioneers series

by Andrea Beaty ; illustrated by David Roberts ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 7, 2023

A much-needed reminder that kindness will always win out.

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Teachers influence children profoundly.

From earliest childhood, Lila Greer, the youngest of five in a single-dad household, has been a worrier. Then the family moves. Entering second grade feels overwhelming: Nothing’s familiar, and she has no friends. But Ms. Kern, Lila’s new teacher, invites Lila to erase the chalkboard at recess and to articulate her fears. It helps that someone listens. Soon, classmates get into the act, and lonely Lila makes friends, emerges from her shell, and learns that “what ifs” have positive sides. Lila grows up, still fretting sometimes, and then becomes a new teacher who worries upon meeting her own students. But then she remembers the teacher who helped her overcome her fears and doubts years earlier. What was that marvelous, ineffable quality Ms. Kern possessed? Then Lila remembers: It was kindness! Harnessing that memory, Lila now welcomes her own “smiling young faces.” This is a sweet story that emphasizes good cheer, helpfulness, and the importance of feeling welcome and heard, no matter who you are: terrific messages, expressed in bouncy verses that scan well. The illustrations are colorfully lively. Readers will appreciate occasional displays of humorous and quirky typesetting creativity and will admire Lila’s poufy topknot, which resembles a huge ball of yarn. Lila is light-skinned, Ms. Kern is tan-skinned, and other characters are diverse.

A much-needed reminder that kindness will always win out. (author’s note) (Picture book. 5-8)