Siegel’s debut is a whimsical salute to the lengths grandmothers will go to to see their grandchildren. When the young narrator’s grandmother calls up to say that she has lost her smile, he is appalled and quickly agrees to drop everything and fly down to help her find it. So he packs his suitcase—with flashlight, magnifying glass, tool belt, telescope and clothes—and heads from the wintry city to the sunny southern beaches, giving readers a nice introduction to airports and flying along the way. And that smile of Grandma’s? Turns out it wasn’t so hard to find after all. The juxtaposition of the young boy’s age ("six and three-quarters") and his grown-up attitude makes for some pretty funny lines—"I'm only being patient because there's no point being impatient," he says. DiSalvo’s softly colored illustrations continue the tongue-in-cheek humor. Long-distance grandmothers everywhere will sympathize with Grandma as she searches for her lost smile in her grandson’s picture, among his toys and in his bedroom, just as they will rejoice in the pair’s loving reunion; those who read this may try a similar trick. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Aug. 14, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59643-438-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Neal Porter/Roaring Brook
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Gleefully fun.
Is little Jesús prepared for the awesome responsibility of managing Papá’s magical water-jug clock?
Hooray, it’s Saturday! Jesús can help his gardener father with the family business. Jesús is tasked with taking care of the water jug, which, according to Papá, is “also a magical clock. It tells us how much work is left to do!” Jesús gets ready as Mamá reminds them “to drink lots of agua.” Piling into their trusty van with its supplies and intoxicating smell of gasoline, oil, and “yesterday’s cut grass,” Jesús and Papá head out. First stop: the Saldañas’ house, where Jesús gives water to some thirsty old cats, Papá, and himself (and splashes some water on his face) while Papá tends to the lawn. At Juan-Diego’s super big house with its tiny dog, Jesús hands out lots of water to everyone (plus two face splashes) to ward off the heat. By Stop Número Tres, the magical water-jug clock is out of water. Time to go home? But there are still 11 more houses to go. Oh no! Where did Jesús go wrong? A marvelous portrait of a working-class Latine family, Trejo’s picture-book debut, inspired by his own childhood experiences, brims with humorous, childlike observations. Anchored by its pint-sized mischief-maker, this tale of a loving father-son relationship radiates pure warmth. Kinkz’s scrappy watercolor-blended artwork bursts with bright colors and amusing details, matching its tiny hero’s chaotic spirit. Publishes simultaneously in Spanish. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gleefully fun. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 6, 2023
ISBN: 9781662651045
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Minerva
Review Posted Online: April 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
A cozy story for the stomach and the soul.
An ode to a beloved comfort food is also a love letter to family ties.
Esme, a dark brown–skinned child with long curly brown hair, and Abuela, who also has dark brown skin, visit the market to buy plátanos. When Abuela reminds Esme that plátanos are love, the young narrator muses, “I thought they were food. But Abuela says they feed us in more ways than one.” Esme receives a brief history lesson during the shopping trip, learning that their ancestors picked plátanos from trees long ago. Esme helps Abuela prepare several mouthwatering plátano dishes and hears more of their family history as they cook. Esme’s ancestors were forbidden from reading, writing, and drawing, so they memorized them and secretly passed the recipes down through generations. The tasty dishes of tostones y patacones, tajadas y maduros, and mangú y fufú are prepared with love and shared with friends and family. Esme writes the recipes down in a notebook titled “Nuestra Familia’s Cookbook” and notes that “Abuela says plátanos are our past. I say plátanos are our present. And with this book, plátanos will always be our future.” Text that incorporates unitalicized Spanish throughout and warm and inviting illustrations convey affection for both food and family and will leave readers hungry for plátanos. Characters throughout the book read as Afro-Latine. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A cozy story for the stomach and the soul. (glossary, recipes) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 11, 2023
ISBN: 9781665902731
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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