A lovely dream to offer any child.
Girls of various races are encouraged to “dream big,” show courage, and make change.
This companion to the (nearly) simultaneously publishing Songs for Our Sons (Oct. 6) is composed of mostly rhyming verses addressed to a child in the second person, celebrating her existence (“we’ve been waiting for you”) and encouraging her bold individuality (“Be brave and believe in / your own guiding star”). The text is prescriptive, telling the child what to do (“Climb trees, make potions, / run wild, and have fun”) and who to be (a “fearless defender,” “a time-traveler,” “a stargazer, a trailmaker”). With a focus on freedom, fun, and connection with nature, these commands read as wishes for the children listening to the story and for the children acting them out. The playful illustrations show tiny, diverse people—most with long hair, one wearing hijab—being courageous and strong, practicing joy, and caring for the Earth, the expansive trim size adding to the sense that there are no limits. The girls practice magic and sports, they read, dance, protest, plant, sing, and ride on the backs of birds. The rhythmic text is almost as fun to read as Seuss and with more interesting words: “lead your rainbow-nation / in a wild, sky-diving, multicolored / murmuration.” Readers who revel in sound, dream, and color will enjoy sharing this poetic experience.
A lovely dream to offer any child. (Picture book. 4-9)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5558-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Eerdmans
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Luminous.
Yolen and Stemple honor the ways many cultures spread light, literally and figuratively, during the darkest days of the year.
Lyrical verse reflects on the commonalities shared by many traditions, while the illustrations highlight a diverse array of winter holidays. The juxtaposition of the universal and the specific embodies the book’s profound message: The ways we are different can unify us, and both our differences and our similarities are worth celebrating. Various groupings of family and friends observe Diwali, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, and Lunar New Year; amid the glow of rangolis, kinaras, lighted trees, menorahs, lanterns, and moonlight, they spend time with loved ones, decorate, sing, eat, and remember deceased ancestors. Unobtrusive footnotes provide a brief definition of each holiday, with longer descriptions in the backmatter explaining a few of the symbols and rituals. Rife with details for observant readers, the artwork sets a cozy tone, whether portraying families crowded round the kitchen table or outside by a roaring fire. The celebrants include people of many different ethnicities, abilities, and ages, and they gather in groups of various sizes and compositions. With its emphasis on inclusivity, this is an excellent choice for classrooms or libraries looking to discuss winter holidays.
Luminous. (Informational picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2024
ISBN: 9780593752296
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
Unlike Harvey Fierstein’s groundbreaking The Sissy Duckling (2002), also illustrated by Cole, this doesn’t carry its agenda...
In this true, straightforwardly (so to speak) delivered tale, two male chinstrap penguins at New York City’s Central Park Zoo bond, build a nest and—thanks to a helping hand from an observant zookeeper—hatch and raise a penguin chick.
Seeing that the penguins dubbed Roy and Silo “did everything together. They bowed to each other. And walked together. They sang to each other. And swam together,” their keeper, Mr. Gramzay, thinks, “They must be in love.” And so, when Roy and Silo copy the other penguin couples and build a nest of stones, it’s Gramzay who brings a neighboring couple’s second egg for them to tend, then names the resulting hatchling “Tango.” Cole gives the proud parents and their surrogate offspring small smiles, but otherwise depicts figures and setting with tidy, appealing accuracy.
Unlike Harvey Fierstein’s groundbreaking The Sissy Duckling (2002), also illustrated by Cole, this doesn’t carry its agenda on its shoulder; readers may find its theme of acceptance even more convincing for being delivered in such a matter of fact, non-preachy way. (afterword) (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-9)Pub Date: June 1, 2005
ISBN: 0-689-87845-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2005
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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