A wry tale that captures a youngster’s awe of babies and the comical disbelief that all adults emerged from infancy. A Show and Tell featuring a classmate’s baby brother is the impetus for a discussion on babies. French includes typical children’s perspectives on babies—odoriferous diapers, frequent crying—as well as some perspicacious reflections on baby-care, including a class discussion on the daily needs of infants: feeding, changing, affection, etc. French segues into a classroom guessing game in which all the students bring in their baby pictures for everyone to identify. The discovery of their teacher’s baby picture leads to a droll discussion of Mr. Judd’s babyhood, with the children imagining their beloved instructor in a pre-adult role. Rawlins’s colored pencil and acrylic gouache paintings are a medley of brilliant hues and genial faces. Her playful classroom scene is idyllically rendered while the flashbacks of Mr. Judd’s infancy are facetiously portrayed; one picture depicts a pint-sized version of the teacher in a pram, complete with dark mustache. The colorful collage of baby photographs encourages readers to join in on the fun, poring over the illustrations in an attempt to match baby to school child. A light-hearted tale with high kid appeal. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2002
ISBN: 0-618-25989-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2002
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
A tot with a penchant for panache is at the center of this playful tale that celebrates marching to the beat of your own drummer. Nancy, a little girl enraptured by all things ornate, is dismayed by her family’s distinctly conventional tendencies. In her quest to convince her loved ones that the sundry trappings of the fabulous life are actually sheer necessities, Nancy embarks upon a campaign of family beautification by offering fancy living instructions. O’Connor deftly conveys Nancy’s precocious yet disarming delivery: Nancy is a hoot and her fashion-first message will resonate with many budding divas among the preschool set. Glasser’s vivacious, vividly colored illustrations capture the exuberance with which tiny fashonistas embrace the life of the glitterati. Aspiring converts to Nancy’s tony lifestyle will find Glasser’s humorous depictions of Nancy in all her glory inspirational, whether she’s dressed for the evening or making over her family. The poignant message about love needing no embellishment adds a heartwarming touch to this fun-filled tale. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-06-054209-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2005
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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