A heartwarming adventure story that looks beyond triumph to show how a solid work ethic and care define success.
In Sidiqi’s picture book, a child watches her father chase an extraordinary goal and learns that courage can include knowing when to stop.
The story opens with a young girl with light skin and dark hair observing her father training “to climb a big mountain called Denali.” He explains that he’ll spend three weeks with a team in Alaska, hauling food and gear across the Kahiltna Glacier. Including her in the experience, he draws his daughter into his preparation, doing push-ups with her on his back and running while pushing her in a stroller. The narrative also explores the father’s motivation of raising money for charity while also testing his own limits—he encourages his daughter to follow such ambitions, telling her she might try someday when she’s older. When the climb ends short of the summit, there’s no sadness; the emotional payoff isn’t about reaching the peak, but in the familial bond reinforced by the father’s thoughtful decision to choose safety. The sentences flow smoothly and convey emotional depth. Miller’s painted illustrations are warm and textured, though the frequent use of surrounding blank space can feel awkward, leaving text and image slightly disconnected rather than in rhythm. Still, the portrayal of a parent balancing ambition with care will surely resonate with readers and caregivers alike.
A heartwarming adventure story that looks beyond triumph to show how a solid work ethic and care define success.Pub Date: April 24, 2026
ISBN: 9798317827267
Page Count: 36
Publisher: BookBaby
Review Posted Online: April 8, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...
Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.
First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014
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BOOK REVIEW
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...
Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.
The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 21, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
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