A shaggy and silly story of self-discovery.
Despite his tough-guy exterior, an abominable snowman has a secret passion for dance.
Otto deftly ascends mountains, endures fiercely frigid weather, and saves his friends from fearsome beasts. But what he really enjoys doing is dancing. He’s never seen a fellow yeti dance, so he indulges himself only in the privacy of home: “Dancing felt too big and shiny to ever happen to him.” Sometimes, the urge to twirl or pirouette slips out while Otto’s doing yeti things with his pals, but it always ends badly. One day he stumbles and falls down the mountain and right into the middle of a unicorn dance audition. Otto decides to try out, but the graceful unicorns are put off by his pungent odor and wild dance moves, and the director pronounces his audition “abominable.” As Otto walks away in disgrace, the lighting designer falls from the catwalk. Otto leaps up to save him, showing off his elegant moves in the process. Everyone wants to see him perform again, even Otto’s rough-and-tumble yeti buddies, who were drawn by the commotion. Books about yetis and unicorns are increasingly popular, and Lau’s debut holds its own in a crowded field. Kids with secret hobbies of their own will see themselves in the determined Otto and will cheer as he succeeds. Lau’s digitally created illustrations are cartoony, snowy, and full of pep.
A shaggy and silly story of self-discovery. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780593754375
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 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
BOOK REVIEW
Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.”
Bewitched by the rhythms of jazz all around her in Depression-era Kansas City, little Melba Doretta Liston longs to make music in this fictional account of a little-known jazz great.
Picking up the trombone at 7, the little girl teaches herself to play with the support of her Grandpa John and Momma Lucille, performing on the radio at 8 and touring as a pro at just 17. Both text and illustrations make it clear that it’s not all easy for Melba; “The Best Service for WHITES ONLY” reads a sign in a hotel window as the narrative describes a bigotry-plagued tour in the South with Billie Holiday. But joy carries the day, and the story ends on a high note, with Melba “dazzling audiences and making headlines” around the world. Russell-Brown’s debut text has an innate musicality, mixing judicious use of onomatopoeia with often sonorous prose. Morrison’s sinuous, exaggerated lines are the perfect match for Melba’s story; she puts her entire body into her playing, the exaggerated arch of her back and thrust of her shoulders mirroring the curves of her instrument. In one thrilling spread, the evening gown–clad instrumentalist stands over the male musicians, her slide crossing the gutter while the back bow disappears off the page to the left. An impressive discography complements a two-page afterword and a thorough bibliography.
Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.” (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-60060-898-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2014
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