by Sanyukta Mathur & Courtney Pippin-Mathur ; illustrated by Courtney Pippin-Mathur ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 16, 2021
A buoyant introduction to Diwali that acknowledges the diversity of Hindu traditions.
It’s Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights!
This book begins when a mother wakes up her child on Diwali morning to help with preparations for this popular holiday. In the following pages, two children engage in traditional activities like cleaning the house, stringing lights up along the eaves outside, and hanging lanterns inside the house. Some of the activities are adjusted for a Western setting: For example, the family draws rangoli on their walk using what appears to be sidewalk chalk instead of the colorful powders traditionally used in India, an adjustment that will be familiar to Hindu families living in the United States. After they’re done cleaning and decorating, the whole family works together to cook dishes like puris and channa masala. After changing into their traditional finery, the family greets their guests, whose skin tones, hair textures, and chosen greetings imply that they come from a variety of linguistic and ethnic backgrounds. The night ends with storytelling, gifts, and sparklers, and a good time is had by all. This book’s greatest strength is its recognition of the fact that Hindu families of various backgrounds celebrate Diwali in different ways, clarifying that the activities in the story are only a sample of traditions that families practice during this holiday. The pictures are bright and cheery, and the language is clear and easy to read. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A buoyant introduction to Diwali that acknowledges the diversity of Hindu traditions. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Nov. 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-25746-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
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by Sanyukta Mathur ; illustrated by Courtney Pippin-Mathur
by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 31, 2023
An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character.
Pookie celebrates Easter with a play date and holiday activities.
Pookie’s friend Bean, a gray puppy, comes over for Easter fun that includes lots of bouncing around and egg decorating. After Bean goes home, Pookie gets excited about the Easter Bunny’s arrival and goes to sleep dreaming of a large chocolate egg. Like the other Pookie books before it, this one is told in rhyme from the perspective of a loving grown-up addressing the little pig, which keeps the pace moving and makes for a great read-aloud. Bean and Pookie are realistically—and endearingly—childlike, from Pookie’s pronunciation of yellow as “lellow!” to the joyful mess they make while decorating eggs. There are plenty of sweet and festive touches, such as the bunny ears that Bean and Pookie (and Pookie’s teddy) wear and the daffodils painted on the end of Pookie’s bed. The illustrations include large, full-page images as well as smaller vignettes against solid backgrounds. One page shows Pookie and parent looking out the window at the moon, anticipating Easter’s spoils. For fans of Boynton and little Pookie, this Easter tale is exactly as expected: a touch of playfulness, a relatable story, and comfort in the familiar. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-66592-838-0
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Boynton Bookworks
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
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by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton
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by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton
BOOK REVIEW
by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton
by Patricia Hegarty ; illustrated by Julia Woolf ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2013
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery.
A troop of cats traverse a spooky landscape as they make their way to a party hosted by ghosts.
Each double-page spread shows the felines’ encounters with the likes of an owl, jack-o’-lanterns or a bat. One or two of these creepy meetings may be too abstract for the youngest readers, as the cats hear eerie noises with no discernible source on the page. The text, which consists of one rhyming couplet per scene, mostly scans despite a couple of wobbles: “Five black cats get a bit of a scare / As the flip-flapping wings of a bat fill the air.” The sleek, slightly retro art, likely created using a computer, depicts the cats cavorting at night through a shadowy cityscape, the countryside and a haunted house; they may scare some toddlers and delight others. A brighter color palette would have given the project a friendlier, more universal appeal. Luckily, the well-lit, final party scene provides a playful conclusion.
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-58925-611-8
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
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by Patricia Hegarty ; illustrated by Lucy Barnard
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by Patricia Hegarty ; illustrated by Thomas Elliott
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by Patricia Hegarty ; illustrated by Fhiona Galloway
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