Celebrates shining bright even when others want us to dim our light.
Anjali is the star of her tabla lessons, but not everyone supports her success.
Her friend Deepak, for example, makes fun of her and talks about her behind her back. It doesn’t help that many people assume that the Indian drumset is just for boys. Anjali tries to cope by confronting Deepak—unsuccessfully—and by pretending that she doesn’t know tabla as well as she actually does. Caught between her friendship and her talent, Anjali is so riddled with frustration that she must leave class in the middle of the day to go to the bathroom. While there, she meets a fifth grader named Tina who tells Anjali, “Never dim your light, girl.” Heeding the older student’s words, Anjali decides to embrace her talent and to celebrate her hard work, and by the end of the story, Anjali is shining bright. Soto’s cheery illustrations depict Anjali’s diverse elementary school and her love of music with equal flair. The book’s message, which feels aimed at young women of color, is both relevant and essential. Laudably, the author does not sugarcoat the consequences of being young, female, South Asian, and unafraid even as she gives Anjali strong support in both her parents and tabla teacher. At times, the text can be forced or stilted, but overall the book is inspiring without being preachy, all while delivering an essential message. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Celebrates shining bright even when others want us to dim our light. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 14, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-73705-501-3
Page Count: 38
Publisher: Mango and Marigold Press
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
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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