ON MY WAY TO THE BATH

Name: ON MY WAY TO THE BATH
Author: Sarah Maizes
ISBN: 978-0-8027-2364-2

by Sarah Maizes & illustrated by Michael Paraskevas ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2012

Readers will be thrilled with the ending—Maizes sets the stage for an encore for Livi, who suddenly sees that baths aren’t...

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A young girl reluctant to quit her playing for the “boredom” of the bath imagines all sorts of adventures on her way to the tub.

As a snake, Livi slithers off the couch. Passing her blocks, she pictures the statue she will build. She does a cartwheel, suddenly a fantastic gymnast. Her sister’s music incites an impromptu show. Livi’s guinea pigs remind her that she needs to plan a new caper to take over the world, with their help, of course. And so it continues, all the way to the tub. Meanwhile, speech bubbles on the far–right-hand side of each spread allow readers to track Livi’s mother’s exasperation as she waits for her tyke to finally arrive. The phrases she uses are sure to be familiar to readers. Paraskevas’ brightly colored digital illustrations reveal a plucky girl with lots of personality. Livi may be small, but she knows what she wants, and her determination is to be admired, especially when her real-life skills don’t quite measure up to those of the Livi in her imagination. Pair this one with Christine Anderson and Steven Salerno’s Bedtime! (2005) to see what happens when another child doesn’t stop playing when she is supposed to be getting in the tub.

Readers will be thrilled with the ending—Maizes sets the stage for an encore for Livi, who suddenly sees that baths aren’t so boring after all: “I am a shark…” (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: May 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-8027-2364-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Walker

Review Posted Online: March 27, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
ATTICUS CATICUS
by Sarah Maizes ; illustrated by Kara Kramer

- BOOK REVIEW
ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL
by Sarah Maizes ; illustrated by Michael Paraskevas

- BOOK REVIEW
ON MY WAY TO BED
by Sarah Maizes ; illustrated by Michael Paraskevas

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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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HOW TO CATCH A MAMASAURUS

From the How To Catch… series

by Alice Walstead ; illustrated by Andy Elkerton ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2024

A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.

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Another creature is on the loose.

The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.