Playful, soothing, and beautiful.
A grandmother and grandchild find refuge in their garden when the noise of life gets to be too much.
Every June, the lively young narrator spends two weeks at Grandma’s house. Together, they play make-believe, bake, have tea parties with dolls, and act out stories. But today, Grandma covers her ears to block the sound of Grandpa’s hammering and the music he plays while working. Announcing that she’s “thirsty for / a cup of quiet,” Grandma first seeks it on the front porch, but the street noise is overwhelming. So they flee to the backyard garden, where Grandma sits perfectly still. She instructs the child to walk around and fill an imaginary cup with sounds. The child collects the buzz of a bee, the whistle of wind, the hum of a hummingbird’s wings, and raindrops on the roof; the last sends the two running back inside. Before Grandma can get irritated by the cacophony, the child hands her the cup of soothing sounds, which Grandma finds “very refreshing.” Grimes’ simple, lyrical text depicts a sweet, relationship-based mini-adventure with a victory both adults and children will appreciate. Johnson’s whimsical illustrations, which make use of engaging compositions in pastel colors, are as poetic as Grimes’ verse. Both characters present Black; the child is darker-skinned with braids and beads, while Grandma has a short, gray Afro.
Playful, soothing, and beautiful. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: April 15, 2025
ISBN: 9781547610730
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2025
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.
Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250393975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
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A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.
Another creature is on the loose.
The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781728274300
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
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