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HOME, HOME

Name: HOME, HOME
Author: Sibu T.P.
ISBN: 9780593403730

by Sibu T.P. ; illustrated by Sibu T.P. ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 12, 2025

A soothing read, warm and comforting as a cup of chaiya.

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An Indian American child constantly feels like the odd one out.

Holed up with a sketch pad or savoring cups of chaiya (“the color of treasure and honey. The color of me”), Ajesh finds home to be a welcome respite from school, where the youngster feels like “the different one.” Happily, summer break is finally here, and Ajesh is thrilled at the prospect of “two whole months where I can be myself.” But when Mummy and Daddy announce a trip “back home” to the South Indian state of Kerala, Ajesh is unsure. In India, the child is overwhelmed by unfamiliar noises, sights, and sounds. Everything is different, except for one thing: Ajesh still feels out of place. But as the family spends time traveling through India, passing by the tea plantations of Munnar, enjoying a stay on a houseboat, and visiting Ajesh’s grandparents’ home, the protagonist’s attitude slowly changes. The familiar scents of Ammachi (Grandma) preparing chaiya make Ajesh feel right at home, and the book concludes with the child returning to America with a sketchbook celebrating cherished memories—and the understanding that Kerala is home, too. Relying on strong sensory imagery, this keenly observed tale speaks to the alienation experienced by many who straddle two cultures. Tightly packed illustrations reflect the hustle and bustle of daily life in Kerala, while wide luscious landscapes showcase the diversity within India.

A soothing read, warm and comforting as a cup of chaiya. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Aug. 12, 2025

ISBN: 9780593403730

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
A TASTE OF HOME
by Richard Ho ; illustrated by Sibu T.P.

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THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING

by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...

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Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.

First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 1, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Kids Can

Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
BYE BYE, BUTTERFLY
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

- BOOK REVIEW
NO MOUSIE LEFT BEHIND
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MOST MAGNIFICENT MAKER'S A TO Z
by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)