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THE DADDY STORE

Name: THE DADDY STORE
Author: Sanne Miltenburg
ISBN: 978-1-60537-266-2

by Sanne Miltenburg ; illustrated by Sanne Miltenburg ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 10, 2016

Visit the library or bookstore for a new read instead.

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A flier from the Daddy Store starts a young boy to thinking about his dad’s flaws.

His dad doesn’t notice his aquatic feats at the pool and thinks the fair’s expensive, so the boy pulls his sad-looking and obviously reluctant dad by the hand to the Daddy Store for a trade. But the three different dads he tries out aren’t much better. One is a cheerleader parent, another is too competitive, and a third, a movie star, takes the boy to the fair but gives him money instead of his time. The boy returns to the Daddy Store just in time to prevent two other children from walking away with his original father, and the two, both white, return home: “You are the best dad in the world!” Never addressed is the inattention that originally prompted the trade. While the sign behind the counter prompts shoppers to “Choose your color,” “Choose your type” (seemingly amount of muscle/weight), and “Choose your size” (height), of the three dads on display, two are white, and one might be Latino (though on the endpapers and in one internal illustration, eight more dads are pictured: five white, one possibly East Asian, and two dark-skinned—one in a wheelchair and one very pudgy one who is labeled “Makes delicious pancakes”). The illustrations, which appear to be digital, just echo the text, and most of the featured women are troublingly sexualized.

Visit the library or bookstore for a new read instead. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: May 10, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-60537-266-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Clavis

Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

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Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.

Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: March 29, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin

Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE'S A BEACH IN MY BEDROOM
by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson

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I GOT YOU

by Derrick Barnes ; illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2025

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind.

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When Mom and Dad bring baby Rasheed home for the first time, it’s love at first sight for big brother Anthony.

As the boys grow, Anthony teaches his little sibling how to build a tower with blocks (and how to knock it down with a loud “WHOP!!!”), how to ride a bike, and even how to fly (through a well-timed leap from the swings). When thunder and lightning wake them both one night, Anthony assuages Rasheed’s fears with the book’s titular refrain: “I got you.” But one day Anthony goes for a bike ride with his friends, leaving Rasheed alone and hurt. That night, Anthony explains that while he may spend time with his peers, his bond with Rasheed is unbreakable. And as the book comes to a close, with Mom and Dad introducing the boys to their new little sibling, Anthony leaves Rasheed with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to be a supportive big brother himself. Narrated by Rasheed, Barnes’ text is elegant in its simplicity, loving yet never saccharine, and always emotionally honest. Using varied perspectives, Knight-Justice’s richly hued, collagelike digital illustrations combine a patchwork of textures and patterns, immersing readers in this affectionate Black family’s world. Greens and blues dominate the pages, bringing to life an idyllic suburban setting.

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind. (Picture book. 4-8)