A vibrantly illustrated ode to tranquility.
A child reflects on all the different ways to experience peace.
An unnamed, Black-presenting protagonist looks serenely out a window beside a happy black cat. The child narrator describes moments when they feel peaceful: when connecting with others, when they’re by themself, or “when things go well.” This gentle story introduces different flavors of peace—“ ‘Good game!’ peaceful.” “ ‘Cuddle time,’ peaceful.” “ ‘I’ll help,’ peaceful.” Bell’s dynamic, textured illustrations make peace feel particularly palpable, such as when the protagonist describes the “ ‘floating,’ peaceful” they feel when swimming outside; Bell’s depiction of the contented main character, buoyed on the light-webbed surface of a lake, is mesmerizing. But the child does acknowledge that they don’t always feel peaceful—“So I slow my breathing down—deep breath in, deep breath out.” The rest of the story details strategies for finding peace, with the narrator concluding that “Sometimes it takes work to get there. But when I do, I’m happy to be peaceful me.” With no validation of nonpeaceful emotions, some young readers may get the impression that distress and agitation are bad feelings to fix rather than normal emotions that just require processing. The book would have benefitted from a slightly more expanded narrative that spends more time on negative emotions; caregivers and educators may want to pair it with the creators' earlier title Angry Me (2022) for a more in-depth look at the emotional spectrum. Still, overall this is an age-appropriate exploration of how to stay centered and calm. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A vibrantly illustrated ode to tranquility. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9781773063416
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist.
Can anyone be perfect?
Beatrice Bottomwell always does everything right. “Most people in town didn’t even know Beatrice’s name. They just called her ‘The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes,’ because for as long as anyone could remember, she never did.” One Thursday though, she almost does something wrong (she drops some eggs while cooking at school but catches them just in time). Straightforward text describes Beatrice’s predicament as, unnerved, she ponders her almost-error and begins to worry. What if she really does do something wrong? Brightly colored watercolors and gentle humor combine to portray Beatrice’s eventful day, her growing fear and her sprightly pet hamster. During a school talent show, Beatrice finally makes a real mistake—in front of everyone. How will she cope? Learning how to relax enough to laugh and simply be herself just might do the trick. While the plot is predictable and the solution to the problem fairly pat, this is a well-intentioned story, full of acceptance and goodwill. It will be especially useful in a therapeutic setting; it may be a real comfort to a child who is afraid of making mistakes, while children dealing with similar issues will also find reassurance here.
A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5544-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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