A masterpiece.
A grandson recounts his grandpa’s love for the sea and worldwide adventures in this Brazilian import.
“Every line on my skin tells the story of my life,” Grandpa tells his narrating grandson before he begins sharing his life’s story. With the help of Santiago’s striking illustrations, Elia shows this old salt’s love for each land he visited in his youth as a sailor. Grandpa shares his travels from Europe, where he “ate picnics in groves of olive trees,” to Africa, where he “climbed sand dunes to watch the sun go down.” From Asia to Oceania and finally America, Santiago’s vibrant palette depicts famous landmarks and animals in each of the five continents (North and South America are considered as one, and Antarctica doesn’t make an appearance). With a touch of the fantastical, the narrative carries readers over the oceans as Grandpa’s ship rides the hump of a whale from continent to continent and Grandpa collects stories. While at sea, the vastness provides a calm and contemplative blue space, with Grandpa’s boat urging readers to turn the page. Like the grandson, readers might also wonder if Grandpa’s stories are true, but it won’t matter as this gorgeous story will have them returning to the beginning of the book to once again embark on the journey. Both grandfather and grandson have brown skin; by originating Grandpa’s travels outside of Europe, the story interestingly complicates questions of imperialism.
A masterpiece. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-911373-54-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Lantana
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019
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 charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn.
A young owl achieves his grand ambition.
Owl, an adorably earnest and gallant little owlet, dreams of being a knight. He imagines himself defeating dragons and winning favor far and wide through his brave exploits. When a record number of knights go missing, Owl applies to Knight School and is surprisingly accepted. He is much smaller than the other knights-in-training, struggles to wield weapons, and has “a habit of nodding off during the day.” Nevertheless, he graduates and is assigned to the Knight Night Watch. While patrolling the castle walls one night, a hungry dragon shows up and Owl must use his wits to avoid meeting a terrible end. The result is both humorous and heartwarming, offering an affirmation of courage and clear thinking no matter one’s size…and demonstrating the power of a midnight snack. The story never directly addresses the question of the missing knights, but it is hinted that they became the dragon’s fodder, leaving readers to question Owl’s decision to befriend the beast. Humor is supplied by the characters’ facial expressions and accented by the fact that Owl is the only animal in his order of big, burly human knights. Denise’s accomplished digital illustrations—many of which are full bleeds—often use a warm sepia palette that evokes a feeling of antiquity, and some spreads feature a pleasing play of chiaroscuro that creates suspense and drama.
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-31062-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
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