by Richard Torrey ; illustrated by Richard Torrey ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 16, 2016
A mostly delightful look at the importance of compromise among friends.
A boy and a girl with different ideas of imaginative play find middle ground.
Torrey returns with an all-too-familiar tale of two children who cannot agree on their pretend play during their play date. The debate begins amicably as the young girl suggests playing queen of the castle, but the boy counters with dinosaur role-playing instead. As their back and forth continues, the children become increasingly frustrated. Neither will back down, and the two decide to play on their own. After moments of parallel play, the two stretch their imaginations to create a world that caters to both of their ideas. Torrey’s text captures his young audience’s naturally exuberant dialogue. However, each child’s play suggestions stick closely to gender stereotypes. The girl suggests ballerinas and castles, while the boy prefers fire-breathing dragons and race cars. Expressive illustrations tell the story with barely any need for the accompanying text. Crayon drawings offer a preview of each child’s imagination, while each child’s body language and facial expressions allow for easy inference of the children’s moods. The palette is minimal: purple for what the girl imagines and green for the boy; except for color-coded clothing, the rest is black lines on white backgrounds.
A mostly delightful look at the importance of compromise among friends. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Feb. 16, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-553-51099-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: Oct. 18, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2015
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by Aly Raisman ; illustrated by Bea Jackson ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 2, 2024
Necessary and empowering.
Olympic gold medalist Raisman, who in 2017 spoke out about the sexual abuse she’d endured, presents a primer on bodily autonomy.
“I am strong. I am beautiful. I am unique. I am enough.” So begin the affirmations that appear in this sensitively written book. Raisman underscores the importance of being kind to one’s body and listening to what it needs. She notes that others need to ask permission before touching our bodies; sometimes the answer will be yes, but other times, it will be no. Either is acceptable. Sometimes, someone will forget to ask or won’t respect the answer. When that happens, children can tell them to stop. If they feel unsafe, and it’s hard to say no, they can ask for help from people who make them feel safe. Our voices are just as “powerful,” “beautiful,” and “worthy” as our bodies. Emphasizing the strength inherent in every person—and making clear that we all deserve respect—Raisman has created a much-needed resource for starting a dialogue about consent. Backmatter offers tips for adults about discussing bodies and boundaries. Jackson’s expressive, pastorally soft illustrations depict people, diverse in terms of race, ability, and body type, practicing gymnastics, gardening, and playing basketball. A light-skinned girl wearing a shirt reading “Aly,” presumably a stand-in for the author, features prominently.
Necessary and empowering. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781250798107
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024
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by Aly Raisman with Blythe Lawrence
by Pip Jones ; illustrated by Sara Ogilvie ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2020
A disappointing follow-up.
Inventor Izzy Gizmo is back in this sequel to her eponymous debut (2017).
While busily inventing one day, Izzy receives an invitation from the Genius Guild to their annual convention. Though Izzy’s “inventions…don’t always work,” Grandpa (apparently her sole caregiver) encourages her to go. The next day they undertake a long journey “over fields, hills, and waves” and “mile after mile” to isolated Technoff Isle. There, Izzy finds she must compete against four other kids to create the most impressive machine. The colorful, detail-rich illustrations chronicle how poor Izzy is thwarted at every turn by Abi von Lavish, a Veruca Salt–esque character who takes all the supplies for herself. But when Abi abandons her project, Izzy salvages the pieces and decides to take Grandpa’s advice to create a machine that “can really be put to good use.” A frustrated Izzy’s impatience with a friend almost foils her chance at the prize, but all’s well that ends well. There’s much to like: Brown-skinned inventor girl Izzy is an appealing character, it’s great to see a nurturing brown-skinned male caregiver, the idea of an “Invention Convention” is fun, and a sustainable-energy invention is laudable. However, these elements don’t make up for rhymes that often feel forced and a lackluster story.
A disappointing follow-up. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68263-164-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
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