Not a lot in the way of sparkle here.
A trio of mischief-makers purloin sparkles.
In order to sneak into a stage show, a toad, a poodle, and a pigeon help themselves to a cape, a crown, and a pair of boots, respectively; each item gleams brightly. The critters adorn themselves and hide under the cape. A pint-sized usher chastens them for stealing, but they brush him off, and he frowns as they breeze on by. His uniform lacks luster. Next thing he knows, he’s being carried aloft into the theater by some other sparkly animals, and—whoa!—he’s suddenly bedecked, too, and joins the original trio onstage. But what’s this? The actual entertainer shows up, angry at the theft of the sparkly costume—and the erstwhile performers are unceremoniously escorted out the theater’s back door, leaving their flashy gear behind. They encounter a chicken who’s brandishing two sparkly wands that create fireworks, and in the end, “everyone has sparkles.” This silly, essentially plotless story, expressed in passable verse, doesn’t have much point or humor and will be appreciated most by kids who really dig sparkles. The colorful, lively illustrations, created with gouache, graphite powder, and cut paper, feature expressive characters and sparkle just a bit. Some imaginative typography also adds a few touches of creative dazzle. The young usher is light-skinned; the performer is brown-skinned.
Not a lot in the way of sparkle here. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 12, 2024
ISBN: 9780735270398
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 16, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2024
A charming tale of an athlete who may not steal any bases but who will certainly steal readers’ hearts.
Ohtani, pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, teams up with Blank and Liem to tell the story of how his dog, Decoy, threw out a ceremonial first pitch.
It’s a big day! Decoy leaps “off the bed. Then back onto the bed. Then off the bed.” The enthusiastic pup heads outside to practice with his lucky baseball but is quickly distracted by squirrels (“we’ll play later!”), airplanes (“flyin’ high!”), and flowers (“smell ya soon!”). Dog and pitcher then head to the ballpark. In the locker room, Decoy high-paws Shohei’s teammates. It’s nearly time! But as Shohei prepares to warm up, Decoy realizes that he’s forgotten something important: his lucky ball. Without it, there will be “no championships, no parades, and no hot dogs!” Back home he goes, returning just in time. With Shohei at the plate, Decoy runs from the mound to his owner, rolling the ball into Shohei’s mitt for a “Striiiiike!” Related from a dog’s point of view, Ohtani and Blank’s energetic text lends the tale a sense of urgency and suspense. Liem’s illustrations capture the excitement of the first day of baseball season and the joys of locker room camaraderie, as well as Shohei and Decoy’s mutual affection—even when the ball is drenched in slobber, Shohei’s love for his pet shines through, and clearly, Decoy is focused when it matters.
A charming tale of an athlete who may not steal any bases but who will certainly steal readers’ hearts. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
ISBN: 9780063460775
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
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
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