Delightful and delicious.
Rivka and Bubbie are determined to bake a perfectly wonderful challah.
Bubbie has always been too busy to cook, but now she has the time for a new Friday tradition, and granddaughter Rivka is an eager helper. Their first effort is a disaster. But Rivka’s mother always says, “Practice makes progress,” so every week there’s more trial and error, with setbacks and some improvements. They patiently let the dough rise in a warmed oven and allow for a longer bake. But while they’re having fun playing in the snow, they forget to listen for the timer, and the loaf is burned. So next time they set two timers and play a quiet game of cards. At last, they produce a delicious challah that receives rave reviews from the family. Rivka narrates the tale with enthusiasm and joy, describing the rhythm of the baking process (“We squish and smoosh and stretch and squeeze! We let our cozy dough rise, then we roll-pat it into ropes”). She optimistically repeats the title phrase after each effort, until it is gloriously true. A few Yiddish expressions are used throughout. Reul's bright, colorful cartoons perfectly capture the love and humor of learning to bake. Rivka’s and Bubbie’s large, round brown eyes, facial expressions, and body language dramatically express every emotion and reaction. Young readers and their grands will feel the love and connect to their own family traditions. Rivka, Bubbie, and their family are tan-skinned and Jewish. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Delightful and delicious. (recipe) (Picture book. 4-9)Pub Date: Sept. 20, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-4197-5898-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2022
Charming.
An assortment of unusual characters form friendships and help each other become their best selves.
Mr. and Mrs. Tupper, who live at Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, are antiquarians. Their daughter, Jillian, loves and cares for a plant named Ivy, who has “three speckles on each leaf and three letters in her name.” Toasty, the grumpy goldfish, lives in an octagonal tank and wishes he were Jillian’s favorite; when Arthur the spider arrives inside an antique desk, he brings wisdom and insight. Ollie the violet plant, Louise the bee, and Sunny the canary each arrive with their own quirks and problems to solve. Each character has a distinct personality and perspective; sometimes they clash, but more often they learn to empathize, see each other’s points of view, and work to help one another. They also help the Tupper family with bills and a burglar. The Fan brothers’ soft-edged, old-fashioned, black-and-white illustrations depict Toasty and Arthur with tiny hats; Ivy and Ollie have facial expressions on their plant pots. The Tuppers have paper-white skin and dark hair. The story comes together like a recipe: Simple ingredients combine, transform, and rise into something wonderful. In its matter-of-fact wisdom, rich vocabulary (often defined within the text), hint of magic, and empathetic nonhuman characters who solve problems in creative ways, this delightful work is reminiscent of Ferris by Kate DiCamillo, Our Friend Hedgehog by Lauren Castillo, and Ivy Lost and Found by Cynthia Lord and Stephanie Graegin.
Charming. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: May 27, 2025
ISBN: 9781665942485
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
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
BOOK REVIEW
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