Artistically educational.
A little boy makes his first visit to a hospital, a fascinating world all its own.
Accompanied by his Kurdish nanny, Gulsa (her name means “happy rose”), Henry carries a bouquet of flowers. Gulsa is talking on her new phone, so when they reach the door of the hospital, the young white boy decides to go on ahead inside to find his grandmother. It’s busy and noisy, like an airport, with people of all ethnicities all around. When Gulsa doesn’t come, he begins exploring on his own: the halls, the elevators, even the rooms of other patients. An elderly black woman in an elevator scolds Henry, calling him George. A nurse arrives to take the confused woman back to her room. Henry’s surprised to find a white classmate named Sydney, who’s there because she got a bean up her nose. Henry’s too concerned about Grandma to laugh. Finally, a helpful security guard named Harvey-James escorts him to his grandmother’s room, and who should be there but Gulsa? The pictures tell the story in this beautifully, distinctively designed book. Double-page spreads are dominated by straight industrial lines, with figures outlined in black that add dimension, tinted pages, and text boxed against a white background. The text is overlong and peppered with jokes only adults will understand, and it’s a shame that the story kicks off due to hijab-wearing Gulsa’s irresponsibility.
Artistically educational. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-7765-7154-3
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Gecko Press
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
An effective early chapter book conveyed in a slightly overdone gag.
Epistolary dispatches from the eternal canine/feline feud.
Simon the cat is angry. He had done a good job taking care of his boy, Andy, but now that Andy’s parents are divorced, a dog named Baxter has moved into Andy’s dad’s house. Simon believes that there isn’t enough room in Andy’s life for two furry friends, so he uses the power of the pen to get Baxter to move out. Inventively for the early-chapter-book format, the story is told in letters written back and forth; Simon’s are impeccably spelled on personalized stationery while Baxter’s spelling slowly improves through the letters he scrawls on scraps of paper. A few other animals make appearances—a puffy-lipped goldfish who for some reason punctuates her letter with “Blub…blub…” seems to be the only female character (cued through stereotypical use of eyelashes and red lipstick), and a mustachioed snail ferries the mail to and fro. White-appearing Andy is seen playing with both animals as a visual background to the text, as is his friend Noah (a dark-skinned child who perhaps should not be nicknamed “N Man”). Cat lovers will appreciate Simon’s prickliness while dog aficionados will likely enjoy Baxter’s obtuse enthusiasm, and all readers will learn about the time and patience it takes to overcome conflict and jealousy with someone you dislike.
An effective early chapter book conveyed in a slightly overdone gag. (Fiction. 6-8)Pub Date: May 12, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-8234-4492-2
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Heartfelt content for children who need to feel seen.
Words addressed to children aimed at truth-telling, encouraging, and inspiring are accompanied by pictures of children of color going about their days.
“This story is about you,” the narrator opens, as a black boy looks up toward readers, a listening expression on his face. A multiracial group of children romp in a playground to encouraging words: “you are… / a dancer / a singer / in charge of the game.” Then comes a warning about the “whispers” out in the world that “tell you who you are / But only you and love decide.” There is advice about what to do when you “think there is nowhere safe”: “Watch a bird soar / and think, / Me too.” It asks readers to wonder: “If there was a sign on your chest / what would it say?” Children argue and show frustration and anger for reasons unclear to readers, then they hold up signs about themselves, such as “I am powerful” and “I am talented.” A girl looks hurt, and a boy looks “tough” until someone finds them “sitting there wondering / when the sky will blue.” While the words are general, the pictures specify a teacher, who is brown-skinned with straight black hair, as one who “can see you.” While young readers may find the wording unusual, even obscure in places, the nurturing message will not be lost.
Heartfelt content for children who need to feel seen. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68446-021-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
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