A celebration of God’s love for humanity rooted in faith.
Branch out into the story of creation—and beyond.
“At the beginning of all things, / a breath. / God spoke a Word,… / and out of nothing, / came everything.” So starts life on Earth and the biblical story of humanity. After speaking the oceans, mountains, and animals into existence, God plants the seed for the Tree of Life; Carlos’ accompanying image depicts Adam and Eve literally rooted in its base. Covering the Great Flood and Noah’s Ark and alluding to other biblical figures, Janni at last comes to the life and resurrection of Jesus. She uses trees and branches as a motif to tell the story of Christianity. While the arboreal metaphors are repetitive at times, she effectively uses the poetic form to showcase the power of faith (“He broke through earth / and stone / and death / to life. / Resurrected”). Carlos’ watercolor and Photoshop illustrations are detailed and intricate, providing an appropriate scope to an epic story, although some spreads are meticulous to the point of clutter. Author’s and illustrator’s notes describe the creators’ processes and inspiration; also included is a starter pack of Bible stories, complete with chapter and verse, introducing major Christian themes and stories to young readers. Families looking for an Easter read-aloud with more overt religious themes will find this a valuable addition. Human characters vary in skin tone.
A celebration of God’s love for humanity rooted in faith. (Picture book. 6-9)Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2026
ISBN: 9780802856159
Page Count: 52
Publisher: Eerdmans
Review Posted Online: July 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Safe—if unexceptional of content (and physically problematic in library settings).
A front-cover advent calendar with die-cut flaps cues 24 seasonal activities for the run-up to Christmas.
Between guidelines for a letter to Santa on Dec. 1 and the full text of “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas” on Dec. 24, Hickey assembles a mix of amusements. These include games, recipes, luminarias and other crafts, jokes (“How does a sheep say ‘Merry Christmas’?” “Fleece Navidad!”), and songs—plus retold versions of “The Elves and the Shoemaker” and The Nutcracker. The illustrations, as cozy as the contents, offer festoons of evergreens and ornaments and depictions of tidy homes and small businesses nestled closely together in snowy landscapes; yummy treats; and wrapped gifts. Sweater-clad figures (both white and people of color) celebrate in various combinations before all coming together in a crowded living room to open presents on Christmas morning. Except for the occasional carol and hanging star, it’s a secularized and nonsectarian view of the holiday season, but the values of sharing, giving, eating together, and otherwise valuing family and community all receive proper notice. With the exception of the luminarias, traditions depicted skew toward generic Western European/North American observances.
Safe—if unexceptional of content (and physically problematic in library settings). (Novelty anthology. 6-9)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4521-7407-5
Page Count: 72
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This brief biography makes Frank’s writing an effective introductory focus for young readers.
Anne Frank’s story of confinement for several years after the Nazi takeover of the Netherlands, including her tragic death, is simply but accessibly told.
Marshall introduces Anne as an individual. “As a baby, Anne cried. LOUD. As a toddler, she was silly and made everyone laugh. And as a little girl, she spoke her mind.” Marshall intersperses this account with brief historical interludes. An image of Anne and her friend throwing water on people from a balcony is indicative of her happy early childhood, but by 1940 the Nazis invaded the Netherlands. When she receives her diary for her 13th birthday, the text notes that Anne “wrote about new rules that stopped her—and all Jews—from riding bikes, going to movies, playing in public parks, and attending public schools.” Children will understand how these restrictions would change life immeasurably. Marshall chronicles the Franks’ time in the Secret Annex with short, poetic sentences about what Anne wrote. The flat illustrations show Anne with her dark hair and intense eyes in happy and sad times, the lack of depth emphasizing Anne’s confinement. History is reflected on several pages with darker palettes that include maps to help readers understand the proximity of Germany to the countries it conquered. The last spread celebrates Anne’s legacy.
This brief biography makes Frank’s writing an effective introductory focus for young readers. (afterword, timeline, author's note, sources, bibliography, websites) (Picture book/biography. 7-9)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-338-31229-4
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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