Keep this one in your carry-on—an activity book sure to make time fly.
Take an interactive romp through the airport.
Munro, who knows her way around a maze, here fits a series of them into a simple storyline about a child who’s taking a trip to visit Grandmother, accompanied by Mom and Dad. Written in second person addressed to readers, the book starts at Sunnyside Airport, and from there, we move—never in a straight line!—through departures, check-in, security, airport shops and the food court, and terminals into a wonderfully roomy plane interior. At last, it’s time to take off: “UP, UP, AND AWAY!” Large, intricate, full-color spreads are rendered in Munro’s familiar style, not drawn with super-sharp outlines but nevertheless perfectly clear. In addition to the winding mazes, each double-page spread includes a challenging list of items to find, including (on each spread) “a copy of this book.” Direct instructions (“After Security, you enter the FOOD COURT and SHOPS. First get a cold drink”) guides readers through the mazes; an answer key keeps frustration at bay while providing useful and reassuring flying facts. The people depicted are diverse in terms of skin tone and ability; the protagonist never appears (the artwork is depicted from the youngster’s perspective). Whether preparing for a trip or whiling away hours on a flight, readers will find this book absorbing and informative.
Keep this one in your carry-on—an activity book sure to make time fly. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 28, 2026
ISBN: 9780764370748
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Schiffer
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
Blandly inspirational fare made to evoke equally shrink-wrapped responses.
An NBA star pays tribute to the influence of his grandfather.
In the same vein as his Long Shot (2009), illustrated by Frank Morrison, this latest from Paul prioritizes values and character: “My granddad Papa Chilly had dreams that came true,” he writes, “so maybe if I listen and watch him, / mine will too.” So it is that the wide-eyed Black child in the simply drawn illustrations rises early to get to the playground hoops before anyone else, watches his elder working hard and respecting others, hears him cheering along with the rest of the family from the stands during games, and recalls in a prose afterword that his grandfather wasn’t one to lecture but taught by example. Paul mentions in both the text and the backmatter that Papa Chilly was the first African American to own a service station in North Carolina (his presumed dream) but not that he was killed in a robbery, which has the effect of keeping the overall tone positive and the instructional content one-dimensional. Figures in the pictures are mostly dark-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Blandly inspirational fare made to evoke equally shrink-wrapped responses. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-81003-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A self-affirming tale with limited appeal.
Actor Kruger embraces her unusual name and bestows her daughter with a name with special significance.
To many, the name Diane doesn’t sound odd, but when the author was growing up in Germany, it didn’t “sound German at all, like Anna, Lena, or Heidi.” In this picture book, Kruger reminisces about the meaning of her name and how she came to appreciate it. Delicately drawn illustrations with a light watercolor wash first depict a young, blond, White-presenting Diane in red patchwork overalls with her blue-kerchiefed pet bunny, Benny. To escape childhood taunting, Diane reads to Benny as Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, and other fairy-tale characters look on. When her mother explains she was named for a goddess, presumably the Roman goddess Diana, “a fearless huntress, strong-willed, with magical powers,” young Diane begins to wonder what her own special powers will be. After she and her mother travel to London, depicted with diverse citizens, and Diane sees a play for the first time, she realizes her gift is storytelling. Adult readers, especially fans of Kruger, will recognize illustrated scenes from several of her movies. She concludes with a tribute to her daughter and the distinct name she gave her and asks children to ponder their own names and powers. Though the art is attractive, overall, this quiet, understated tale will resonate more with caregiving readers than with children. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A self-affirming tale with limited appeal. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 25, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-66265-091-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: minedition
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
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