Adventure awaits, warmly delivered with striking images, magical colors, and inspiring courage.
The sea beckons a little girl toward daring deeds and hard-fought growth.
As a child, our narrator, who presents Black, looks out from a verdant home, away from her mother and father, across the sea, toward the horizon, and dreams of “secret islands, of hidden treasures.” She builds a humble but ambitious makeshift boat with the help of her parents and embarks on a trip into the unknown. Lush, swirling, expressionistic mixed-media illustrations make the sea as lively and inviting as it is terrifying and threatening, all in bright, dynamic hues. Likewise, the protagonist meets varied characters and obstacles—tempests and monsters, sailors in need of help, high-stakes dice games—on her way to growing into a sort of pirate of her own making. Upon meeting a blond-haired, pale-skinned young boy, the narrator encounters her greatest adventure yet: parenthood. The pair continue to grow—the young woman into old age and the boy into maturity—until it’s clear that the former’s journey has found its destination and the latter’s is only just beginning. Our narrator gives her adopted child the makeshift boat; he’s as enchanted as young readers will be by this charming, heartfelt tale, translated from French.
Adventure awaits, warmly delivered with striking images, magical colors, and inspiring courage. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 30, 2024
ISBN: 9781778400704
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greystone Kids
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2024
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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
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