Lizzie, an exuberant second grader, loves to write stories. Her parents are her best audience—that is, until her baby brother is born. Suddenly the only one who seems to have time to listen is the dog. As Lizzie fights for attention in her house, she takes refuge in her writing and discovers a new muse—her annoying baby brother. She starts creating stories using baby Marvin as her villain and can barely keep up with the wealth of ideas that this fuels. Then her mother takes Marvin for a visit to Grandma’s, and Lizzie gets to enjoy some quiet time with her dad. She discovers, however, that the space Marvin leaves is bigger than she thought and welcomes his return with new appreciation. Sullivan’s prose is a bit wordy, but the fresh take on the new-sibling theme with an empowering female character makes up for its weaknesses. Tusa’s cheerful black-lined watercolors do a nice job expressing Lizzie’s creative spirit, expanding on the gaps left in the text to fill them with humor. Funny and useful. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: June 8, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-374-34635-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2010
A sweet and refreshing reminder that community is all around us.
A testament to the power of mangoes.
Brown-skinned Mia and Mama, who is darker-skinned, have moved into a new house. Mia loved their apartment and misses it but understands that Mama has wanted a house for so long; indeed, having a house has become Mia’s dream, too. It’s a pink two-story building with “five rooms. Eleven windows. And a whole lot of promise.” One of the things that makes this home so special is the mango tree in the yard. Mia is delighted to finally eat a ripe mango, special because it’s from their home. After that, the mangoes just keep coming and coming, and soon there are too many. But Mia quickly has the idea of sharing the fruit with the neighborhood. A full spread depicting racially diverse people eagerly mingling in Mia and Mama’s yard allows readers to see how wonderful it can be to find a new community. Mia decides, “There’s no such thing as too many mangos.” The light and optimistic story and the vibrant artwork complement each other smoothly. Collagelike illustrations in warm tones make inspired use of color, the pink of the new home contrasting well against the green of the lawn. The book will have readers considering what it means to forge new connections. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A sweet and refreshing reminder that community is all around us. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 9, 2023
ISBN: 9781534496033
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2023
An adorable small volume is just the right size for little hands and says just the right words for little voices. A line of animal children—Little Brown Puppy, Snowy White Kitten, Clever Little Monkey, and so on, each want to give their mama a present. Each finds just the right thing: carrots for Soft Little Rabbit’s mama; a big leaf for Tiny Frog’s mama; and a daisy chain for Little Pink Piglet’s mama. The only rhyme in the simple rhythmic text comes when the child gives the gift: “This strawberry’s so red and sweet. / It’s for you and me and Dad to eat,” says Little Turtle. Each mama responds with a similar refrain: “I love the strawberry, my Little Turtle, and I love you.” It ends with Billy, who knows what his mama wants: a kiss, a hug—and a “very special bug.” Sweet’s limpid and winsome images, in bright washes of color, balance the text without being cloying. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-439-45086-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2003
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