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DAD SCHOOL

Food for thought for kids: just how did Dad learn his mad skillz? (Picture book. 4-8)

A child named Lucas imagines the school his dad must have attended to learn how to be such an awesome father.

The syllabus at Dad School consists of learning how to deal with boo-boos and leaky faucets and how to make yummy snacks. There are also a few tongue-in-cheek lessons they shouldn’t miss, including singing “along with old songs on the radio,” making big muscles, “throw[ing]…kids up in the air and catch[ing] them,” and multitasking. While the little white boy is certainly glad his dad was present on the days they taught “making ice cream sundaes, telling silly stories, and giving piggyback rides,” he’s sure he was absent for matching clothes, combing hair, and cleaning the bathroom. And while this particular dad has another job, he says his favorite, best, and most important job is being a dad. Burris’ pencil and digital brush illustrations play up the humor and ridiculousness of a bunch of guys learning (and struggling with) the curriculum. Dads of all sorts of hair and skin colors are shown in the illustrations, though all are able-bodied and relatively trim. And while they may be a bit inept at Dad School, hopefully their on-the-job training has given them the skills they need to succeed.

Food for thought for kids: just how did Dad learn his mad skillz? (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: April 19, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-385-38895-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2016

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.

Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: March 29, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin

Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022

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MAMA BUILT A LITTLE NEST

A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.

Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.

Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.

A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.   (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: March 18, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014

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