A tale of a boy coming into his own that also shines a light on Jewish Argentinian culture.
A child's special light shines brightly in the world.
In many ways, Dani, a Jewish boy living in Buenos Aires, is an average kid, but a bright light follows him everywhere. It cheers him when he’s frightened, but sometimes it annoys people, like at the movies or on Shabbat, “when the beauty of the candles’ light [is] impossible to see.” Classmates complain that Dani’s light gets him special attention, and Dani worries that no one will come to his upcoming birthday party. But his mother tells him, “The light of your soul is so big that it overflow[s].” His birthday is the perfect time to remember how special he is and to share himself—and his light—with the world. Dani’s friends arrive for the party, and though the glare of his light initially causes some mayhem when the gang plays a game of futbol, everything changes when Dani blows out his candles. He wishes for his friends to have lights, and they do—albeit temporarily—and are delighted, realizing they also have “something special to share with the world.” Featuring exuberant, loose-lined illustrations, this is a sweetly told, affirming tale, though the philosophical implications of Dani’s light may escape some readers. The backmatter discusses how many Argentinian Jews have incorporated both elements of their identities; the use of flowers throughout the illustrations is one such example.
A tale of a boy coming into his own that also shines a light on Jewish Argentinian culture. (what’s Jewish about a birthday? glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9798986396583
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kalaniot Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
A touching, beautifully illustrated story of greatest interest to those in the New York City area.
A pair of cardinals is separated and then reunited when their tree home is moved to New York City to serve as the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
The male cardinal, Red, and his female partner, Lulu, enjoy their home in a huge evergreen tree located in the front yard of a small house in a pleasant neighborhood. When the tree is cut down and hauled away on a truck, Lulu is still inside the tree. Red follows the truck into the city but loses sight of it and gets lost. The birds are reunited when Red finds the tree transformed with colored lights and serving as the Christmas tree in a complex of city buildings. When the tree is removed after Christmas, the birds find a new home in a nearby park. Each following Christmas, the pair visit the new tree erected in the same location. Attractive illustrations effectively handle some difficult challenges of dimension and perspective and create a glowing, magical atmosphere for the snowy Christmas trees. The original owners of the tree are a multiracial family with two children; the father is African-American and the mother is white. The family is in the background in the early pages, reappearing again skating on the rink at Rockefeller Center with their tree in the background.
A touching, beautifully illustrated story of greatest interest to those in the New York City area. (author’s note) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7636-7733-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Aug. 20, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2017
Thoughtful and joyful.
A child of Vietnamese descent fantasizes about the perfect outfit for Tết.
One night, Mai dreams about being a big “STAAAAAAR” and fielding questions on the red carpet. Mai’s literal dream dress is a sparkly silver ballroom gown with a sweetheart cut. After waking up, the child is eager to tell Ba all about it, but first it’s time to get ready. It’s the first day of Tết, or Lunar New Year, and the family plans to celebrate at Mai’s grandmother’s house. Though Mai loves visiting Bà Nội, the child balks at donning the áo dài, a Vietnamese outfit consisting of a tunic worn over trousers. “Stars wear dresses and gowns,” Mai tells Ba. But Ba shows Mai the family photo album, explaining that Bà Nội had her own sewing school in Vietnam and that her students lovingly dubbed her the “Queen of Áo Dài.” To keep their traditions alive when the family emigrated, Bà Nội continued to make áo dài for her loved ones, and the children learned to sew them as an expression of love. Finally, with a newfound appreciation for the garment, Mai greets Bà Nội with a hug, clad in a customized áo dài made by Ba. Told entirely through naturally expressed and well-paced dialogue and accompanied by vividly textured illustrations, this is a loving tale of a family finding a creative way to reshape a beloved tradition.
Thoughtful and joyful. (glossary, “let’s design our own áo dài” activity) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781665917346
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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