A solid introduction to discovering one’s own heritage that also teaches respect for others’.
Embarrassed by her long, unusual last name, an 8-year old girl discovers a reason to be proud of her heritage in Pillalamarri’s debut children’s book.
Leela Kongkitisoupchai is excited about her first day of second grade, when she’ll reunite with old friends and meet new ones. But her excitement quickly turns to shame and anger when, during roll call, her teacher stumbles on the pronunciation of her name and some fellow students in the class tease her. One boy says, “Could you get me some soup and maybe some chai tea too while you’re at it, pleaseee?” Adding to Leela’s angst is the upcoming mandatory class talent show; she has no idea what she’ll do. At an after-school trip to the grocery store, she encounters classmate Aleph Boker, who’s working behind the bakery counter. He’s sympathetic to her plight, and they find a common bond: “Hey, did you know that my last name is sort of funny too? It is Boker which actually means Baker in Hebrew!” Aleph opens Leela’s eyes to the possibility of finding meaning in her surname, but she’s convinced that hers must mean “nothing cool except for some yucky old soup and some stale cold chai tea.” Finally, after two days of moping, she confides her feelings to her grandmother, who reveals the story behind their family name, and Leela is both astonished and proud. Young readers will delight in Leela’s brave, surprising performance at the talent show. Pillalamarri does a fine job of developing her characters. Leela is an appealing protagonist who’s inquisitive, smart and sensitive. The lovely illustrations, featuring the spunky, freckled Leela, bring the perfectly chosen scenes to vivid life. The prose is smooth, and the dialogue rings with authenticity throughout. However, there are a few places where the narrative starts to drag, particularly the point where Leela attends a baby-naming ritual. Pillalamarri also includes ideas for lessons on genealogy and etymology, including three worksheets for classroom use.
A solid introduction to discovering one’s own heritage that also teaches respect for others’.Pub Date: Oct. 30, 2014
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 97
Publisher: Lion Heart Books LC
Review Posted Online: Nov. 6, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
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BOOK REVIEW
Another Seuss-chimera joins the ranks of the unforgettable Herlar and with the advent of the Grinch— a sort of Yule Ghoul who lives in a cave just north of who-ville. While all the Who's made ready on Christmas Eve the Grinch donned a Santa-Claus disguise. In gurgling verse at a galloping gait, we learn how the Grinch stole the "presents, the ribbons, the wrappings, the tags, the tinsel and trappings," from all the Who's. But the Grinch's heart (two sizes too small) melted just in time when he realized that the Who's enjoyed Christmas without any externals. Youngsters will be in transports over the goofy gaiety of Dr. Seuss's first book about a villain — easily the best Christmas-cad since Scrooge. Inimitable Seuss illustrations of the Grinch's dog Max disguised as a reindeer are in black and white with touches of red. Irrepressible and irresistible.
Pub Date: Oct. 12, 1957
ISBN: 0394800796
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Oct. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1957
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