A wordy but well-illustrated story about a young girl’s performance at a Hindu festival.
A young girl overcomes anxieties before a dance performance in the latest picture book by the Indian American children’s author Dee (Molly and the Lost Dance Shoes, 2022, etc.).
Diya is excited about dancing onstage to her sister Sita’s choreography for the Hindu festival Navaratri. As she gets ready at the venue, she realizes she doesn’t have her anklets. After looking in the green room, snack room, and restroom without finding them, Diya is beside herself. Sita and others join the search, but soon it’s time for the performance and no one has found the precious jingly jewelry. Upset, Diya puts on her coat to leave, too sad to dance without the anklets. When she does, she learns about the importance of organization: The mystery is soon solved, and Diya dances with the other performers. Dee’s work has larger blocks of text than typical for picture books, which could daunt emerging readers, but the language is appropriate for those of elementary school age. There are Hindi words sprinkled throughout, such as choli, Amma, and kurta, and a helpful glossary in the back. Kim’s simple but colorful illustrations are creatively designed to appear as if they’re painted onto wood, with its grain appearing subtly in the background. The characters’ heads are slightly oversized, giving a cartoonish aspect to a few scenes, but that will add to the fun for some young readers.
A wordy but well-illustrated story about a young girl’s performance at a Hindu festival.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2022
ISBN: 979-8985583427
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Boomi LLC
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A satisfyingly cozy winter holiday tale.
The protagonist of The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt (2020) enjoys a “boo-tiful” holiday.
The titular spirit—comprised of a patterned quilt rather than a plain white sheet like his peers—loves drifting outside in the cold. His heavier fabrics may slow him down the rest of the year, but in winter they keep him warm enough to enjoy the outdoors while his friends remain inside. One December evening, while visiting the human neighborhood, he notices people singing and putting up twinkling lights (amid the Christmas decorations, one window features a menorah). The little ghost quilt is happy for himself but sad that his pals aren’t witnessing all this, too. The sight of a holiday tree inspires him: He’ll bring a tree to his friends! A branch that blows off during a snowstorm will do nicely. For ornaments, he uses odds and ends from the attic of his house. And when his friends arrive at his home that night, everyone decorates the tree together. The moon, peeping through the window and reflecting off a mirror from the attic, provides the glorious pièce de résistance: The make-believe tree glows brilliantly. This quietly lovely holiday tale underscores the true meaning of the holidays: friendship and togetherness. The illustrations rely on a muted palette with spots of vivid colors; like a quilt, they’re soft and delicate. Human characters vary in skin tone.
A satisfyingly cozy winter holiday tale. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
ISBN: 9781774885376
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025
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