illustrated by Tim Hopgood ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 7, 2017
Raindrops are delightful and danceable musical melodies.
Movie happiness is now picture-book joy.
The title song from the classic 1952 movie musical is a song-and-dance salute to joie de vivre—as is this book version. It opens with a cheerful double-page spread of a brown-skinned child in perfectly matched yellow rain gear perched on a lamppost as musical notes in the same cheerful yellow stand out against a blue rain-splattered background. Homage to Gene Kelly? Of course! On the following pages, children in equally colorful rainy-day outfits join in the fun as they dance and march along. They watch from the observation deck of the Empire State Building as clouds fill the sky and the same bright yellow notes appear. Close-ups of the smiling, multiracial cast follow as they watch flowers grow or a reflection in a puddle and then happily splash away to other landscapes filled with tropical birds and lush green foliage. Sing the lyrics or recite the words “based on the song” and have a really good time. Hopgood’s digitally rendered collages of watercolor, pencil, and ink add depth, texture, and buoyant spirit to the package.
Raindrops are delightful and danceable musical melodies. (illustrator’s note) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-250-12770-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Godwin Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2017
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by Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini ; illustrated by Tim Hopgood
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 Suzi Eszterhas ; photographed by Suzi Eszterhas ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 15, 2018
A winning combination of animal facts and outstanding nature photography.
Photographs of wild animal babies—sometimes alone and sometimes with family members—are accompanied by simple text about their mobility.
From the cover’s elephants and the leaping lemurs on the title page on through the endpapers (where the photographer introduces herself), the richness of the color photographs compels readers to keep reading and gazing. The first double-page spread, which shows a newborn zebra—coat still damp and ragged but already upright—explains that some baby animals come into the world ready to move, while others need help at first. “Let’s follow these baby animals and see how they get around!” Each photograph is accompanied by facts about a different animal’s mobility as a baby, including a wonderful double-page spread that shows a mother bear giving a piggyback ride to three cubs, noting that baby bears can be afraid of water. And who knew that when sloths make their weekly descent from trees, it’s primarily “to poop!” Although simple, the text effortlessly introduces vocabulary through context—words such as “foal,” “predators,” and “pod” (of whales). Phrases with exclamation marks and audience-conscious remarks such as “Quick, quick, little piggies!” and “See you later, orcas!” keep the age level to preschool and primary grades. Kudos to the author for balancing the baby animals’ sexes when she uses pronouns.
A winning combination of animal facts and outstanding nature photography. (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 15, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-77147-299-9
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 21, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2018
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by Suzi Eszterhas ; photographed by Suzi Eszterhas
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by Suzi Eszterhas ; photographed by Suzi Eszterhas
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by Suzi Eszterhas ; photographed by Suzi Eszterhas
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