A celebration of those things that nourish us most: food, family, and fishing.
A large extended Black family introduces a youngster to a longstanding Louisiana tradition.
The protagonist—affectionately referred to as Cher by the rest of the family—is thrilled for Fish Fry Friday. “Sister Wind brushes curtains against my cheek,” and “Ol’ Sun peeks, then winks at me” as the child awakens and gets ready to go fishing at Cane River Lake with Papere. Cher has Great-Pere’s cane pole (“He won beaucoup contests with this pole,” notes Papere), but a successful day’s fishing also requires the child to stay quiet—a difficult task on such a thrilling occasion. Still, Cher patiently waits until…triumph! “Not just one catch, / a whole batch of bream for Mamere.” Alas, twirling in excitement, Cher spills the bucket of fish, which flop into the lake. But, as Cher and readers both learn, Fish Fry Friday isn’t just about the food that Mamere prepares. The “hush in the water,” the chatter of kinfolk—these are all the things that Cher is proudly a part of. Simultaneously classic and contemporary, Chambers’ serene digital illustrations emulate pastel brushes, drawing readers into the setting and pairing well with Courtney’s text, rich with dialect and flavored with onomatopoeia. The tale closes with an author’s note and a glossary of words of French origin commonly used in Louisiana.
A celebration of those things that nourish us most: food, family, and fishing. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN: 9780374390907
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
