by Sarah Duchess of York & illustrated by Ian Cunliffe ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2011
Olivia’s grandpa, who has been very sick, is admitted to the hospital. Olivia visits and tries to cheer him up by telling him about her school's field trip to a farm. She teases that the goats had beards just like Grandpa’s and promises to draw him a picture. Sadly, Olivia’s grandfather dies before she finishes the picture. Olivia stays home from school for a couple of days, and when she returns, she and all the other children write and share memories of special people in their lives. That night, Olivia and her family look at photos of Grandpa and share stories about him, and Olivia determines to finish the picture of the goat as a loving tribute. Simple, bland digital illustrations emphasize with little attempt at subtlety the emotions of a multiethnic cast of characters. A list of 10 helpful hints for parents compiled by a child psychologist complete the volume. Although prose and plot are frequently clunky and awkward, this volume and others in the series provide an appropriate springboard from which parents can begin to engage difficult issues with their children. Other Helping Hands Books titles coming out in March 2011 include Molly Makes Friends, When Katie’s Parents Separated and Jacob Goes to the Doctor and Sophie Visits the Dentist. (Bibliotherapy. 6-10)
Pub Date: March 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4027-7394-5
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: Jan. 8, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2011
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by J. Dillard ; illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 3, 2021
A strong second outing for Dillard and J.D.
Breakout kid barber J.D. embraces a summer of opportunity.
Readers met J.D. Jones just as he took his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi, by storm, winning himself community acclaim and a chair at the revered Hart and Sons barbershop in series opener J.D. and the Great Barber Battle(2021). What’s next for the haircut prodigy? School’s just getting out, and there’s so much life happening outside—if only one can escape home learning with the grandparents. J.D.’s sister, Vanessa, brings along multitalented mutual friend Jessyka to share an ambitious challenge: “Let’s start a YouTube channel!” Can they get millions of views and wow the whole world? They are already amazing at haircuts and hairstyles—all they need is to learn how to make a great YouTube video. The story models strategies for scripting short videos reflecting the templates of viral YouTube hair tutorials, inviting readers to not only see the journey of the characters, but maybe also practice these skills at home. This book is bound to educate all about some of the most storied and cherished traditions within the Black community. Bringing in Vanessa is a great touch to extend the series across gender, and hopefully she’ll get a chance to lead her own adventures. This book blends skill-building, entrepreneurship, and strong family values to give young Black children visions of what’s possible when they follow their passions and embrace their community.
A strong second outing for Dillard and J.D. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Aug. 3, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-11155-0
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Kokila
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
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More In The Series
by J. Dillard ; illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts
by J. Dillard ; illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts
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by J. Dillard ; illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts
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by Suzy Kline ; illustrated by Amy Wummer ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 27, 2018
A fitting farewell, still funny, acute, and positive in its view of human nature even in its 37th episode.
A long-running series reaches its closing chapters.
Having, as Kline notes in her warm valedictory acknowledgements, taken 30 years to get through second and third grade, Harry Spooger is overdue to move on—but not just into fourth grade, it turns out, as his family is moving to another town as soon as the school year ends. The news leaves his best friend, narrator “Dougo,” devastated…particularly as Harry doesn’t seem all that fussed about it. With series fans in mind, the author takes Harry through a sort of last-day-of-school farewell tour. From his desk he pulls a burned hot dog and other items that featured in past episodes, says goodbye to Song Lee and other classmates, and even (for the first time ever) leads Doug and readers into his house and memento-strewn room for further reminiscing. Of course, Harry isn’t as blasé about the move as he pretends, and eyes aren’t exactly dry when he departs. But hardly is he out of sight before Doug is meeting Mohammad, a new neighbor from Syria who (along with further diversifying a cast that began as mostly white but has become increasingly multiethnic over the years) will also be starting fourth grade at summer’s end, and planning a written account of his “horrible” buddy’s exploits. Finished illustrations not seen.
A fitting farewell, still funny, acute, and positive in its view of human nature even in its 37th episode. (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: Nov. 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-451-47963-1
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Sept. 16, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2018
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by Suzy Kline & illustrated by Sami Sweeten
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by Suzy Kline & illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
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