An exuberant, if slightly repetitious, book that may empower young children.
Willis’ picture book presents a series of affirmations for kids looking ahead to their futures.
Gianna, Kai, Star, and Robbie are four kids who are eager to share their self-confidence. In this book, they offer rhyming encouragement to youngsters to reach for the stars: “I am amazing as me! There is no limit to what I can be. The more I see, the better for me.” The pals quickly launch into a litany of potential professions. Star cleverly mentions basketball courts and legal courts, stating that she’ll play fairly in each. Gianna suggests a similarly broad selection of careers, such as being a surgeon, swimmer, or farmer. Kai focuses on caregiving professions including veterinary and athletic training work, and Robbie expounds on the worlds of film and theater. As they name potential destinies, each child effectively demonstrates their commitment to approaching the future with integrity. Willis shows passion and commitment in her newest picture book, and she presents each job path with equal excitement. However, the experience of reading through so many possibilities can feel repetitive. Thompson’s illustrations fulfill Willis’ stated goal of diversity, portraying Gianna and Star with brown skin and hair, Kai as Asian, and Robbie with pale skin.
An exuberant, if slightly repetitious, book that may empower young children.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2025
ISBN: 9798989256303
Page Count: 30
Publisher: Amazing Corner
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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