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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New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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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