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WHERE WE CAN HEAR THE GIANTS SING

Name: WHERE WE CAN HEAR THE GIANTS SING
Author: Peter Cheong
ISBN: 9781250907578

by Peter Cheong ; illustrated by Peter Cheong ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 8, 2024

A visually compelling, though at times cryptic, homage to the lure of adventure and the promise of home.

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A child embarks on a fantastical underwater adventure with mermaids.

The tan-skinned, black-haired protagonist befriends a mermaid, who gives the child a necklace. The youngster shows the gift to an adult, who inexplicably recoils and confiscates it. The child secretly finds the necklace, races down the dock, and dives into the water, where the mermaid awaits. In a nod to fairy-tale lore, the necklace gives the child the ability to stay underwater indefinitely. Other mermaids join the two, and the protagonist marvels at the beauty of marine life. But seeing a mermaid parent and child awakens old memories in the youngster. “I’ve had the most wonderful time,” the child says. “But I’m coming back home.” Minimal text describes the basics of the story but at times feels superfluous; the bulk of the narrative is propelled by the striking illustrations. Bold blues, oranges, and greens in textured strokes dominate the dramatic artwork. Though the characters are wonderfully expressive, readers may be confused about some elements of the plot, depending on what details they notice or overlook. Those who start reading after the title page, for instance, may wonder where the necklace came from; they’ll need to flip back to see the earlier pages that show the mermaid giving it to the protagonist.

A visually compelling, though at times cryptic, homage to the lure of adventure and the promise of home. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2024

ISBN: 9781250907578

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Henry Holt

Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
EVERY NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT
by Peter Cheong ; illustrated by Peter Cheong

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: June 21, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
A PERFECT PLACE TO PLAY
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Jim Valeri

- BOOK REVIEW
ON THE FIRST DAY OF FIRST GRADE
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Sarah Jennings

- BOOK REVIEW
FIVE LITTLE BUNNIES
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

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THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING

by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...

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Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.

First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)