by Thao Lam ; illustrated by Thao Lam ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 15, 2021
This work’s clever construction and stark simplicity embody a kaleidoscope of “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors.”
What’s in a name? And why does it matter?
Raise your hand if you can pronounce this book’s title….Anyone who has witnessed or been in a similarly awkward situation will appreciate why “it’s not easy being Thao.” Dressed in a festive outfit with matching red shoes, Thao literally sticks out, as her image appears to have been trimmed from a photograph and superimposed on a plain background, against which ethnically diverse children and adults are affixed as paper-collage figures gazing at her, the newcomer. The white border outlining her cutout concretizes the physical relocation and emotional reframing of the creator’s lived experience as an immigrant. Sparsely illustrated spreads focus readers’ attention on the young child’s self-conscious, anxious attempts to communicate with people who contort her name to nonsensical monikers that range from “Towel” or “Tofu” to “China Girl” and “Thao the Cow.” On the day she tries being “Jennifer,” her homemade lunch helps bolster her Vietnamese identity while turning the tables on those who do not know gỏi cuốn (fresh spring rolls). In sounding out and spelling her full name—Thao Hong Lam—she demonstrates tangible progress in articulating herself even as the closing line, “Not that kind of lamb!” wryly hints at the next hurdle and ongoing adjustments anyone in an unfamiliar environment will be able to relate to.
This work’s clever construction and stark simplicity embody a kaleidoscope of “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors.” (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 15, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77147-432-0
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
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by Karamo Brown & Jason "Rachel" Brown ; illustrated by Diobelle Cerna ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 8, 2022
A useful primer for socioemotional growth.
Queer Eye star Karamo Brown and his son Jason “Rachel” Brown affirm that all feelings—even negative ones—are OK.
A round-faced boy with brown skin, big brown eyes, and a bright smile walks outside, talking with his dad about feelings. With the son’s speech printed in blue and Dad’s in black, the boy announces that he’s happy and shows it by jumping and spinning while Dad dances. The book’s palette, which often reflects the boy’s emotional state, shifts drastically when a thunderstorm blows in as the sky swirls with patterns in deep blue and purple, and a thick yellow lightning bolt blasts through—a dramatic scene that represents the boy’s perception of the turbulent weather as he sits on the ground crying, hugging his knees. Dad assures him that it’s all right to feel and express fear and helps him calm these negative emotions by encouraging him to stretch and breathe deeply. While the book’s lesson is conveyed in a slightly heavy-handed manner, it’s a good message, and readers will appreciate seeing a story that centers a Black father and son dispelling the stereotype that men and boys—especially those of color—don’t or shouldn’t express emotions. The backmatter includes an emotion wheel with the boy showing a range of facial expressions, accompanied by activities and questions. The acronym “FEEL OKAY” offers opportunities to practice discussing emotions. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A useful primer for socioemotional growth. (authors’ note) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Nov. 8, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-63893-010-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Zando
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2022
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by Karamo Brown & Jason "Rachel" Brown ; illustrated by Anoosha Syed
by Lisbeth Kaiser ; illustrated by Marta Antelo ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 7, 2017
It’s a bit sketchy of historical detail, but it’s coherent, inspirational, and engaging without indulging in rapturous...
A first introduction to the iconic civil rights activist.
“She was very little and very brave, and she always tried to do what was right.” Without many names or any dates, Kaiser traces Parks’ life and career from childhood to later fights for “fair schools, jobs, and houses for black people” as well as “voting rights, women’s rights and the rights of people in prison.” Though her refusal to change seats and the ensuing bus boycott are misleadingly presented as spontaneous acts of protest, young readers will come away with a clear picture of her worth as a role model. Though recognizable thanks to the large wire-rimmed glasses Parks sports from the outset as she marches confidently through Antelo’s stylized illustrations, she looks childlike throughout (as characteristic of this series), and her skin is unrealistically darkened to match the most common shade visible on other African-American figures. In her co-published Emmeline Pankhurst (illustrated by Ana Sanfelippo), Kaiser likewise simplistically implies that Great Britain led the way in granting universal women’s suffrage but highlights her subject’s courageous quest for justice, and Isabel Sánchez Vegara caps her profile of Audrey Hepburn (illustrated by Amaia Arrazola) with the moot but laudable claim that “helping people across the globe” (all of whom in the pictures are dark-skinned children) made Hepburn “happier than acting or dancing ever had.” All three titles end with photographs and timelines over more-detailed recaps plus at least one lead to further information.
It’s a bit sketchy of historical detail, but it’s coherent, inspirational, and engaging without indulging in rapturous flights of hyperbole. (Picture book/biography. 5-7)Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-78603-018-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Review Posted Online: May 9, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2017
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by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara ; illustrated by Alona Millgram
by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara ; illustrated by Archita Khosla
by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara ; illustrated by Matt Hunt
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by Lisbeth Kaiser ; illustrated by Stanley Chow
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