A sweet, community-building story that highlights different abilities and the importance of offering a helping hand.
A young fox who is deaf inspires every creature she meets to help others in Peterson’s picture book.
Ada the fox has been wearing aids to help her hear since she was just a cub. Her parents tell her that just like her hearing aids are helpers to assist her in hearing better, she can be a helper, too. On her way to dance in a talent show, Ada meets a mole who can’t see well in the light, a finch who stutters but sings beautifully, and a snake who can’t reach apples from a tree. After she encourages each of them, the three friends join Ada at the talent show to help keep her fears (“will the others laugh at me?”) from getting in the way of her dancing. With a catchy refrain about helping others, this rhyming picture book affirms the notion that a kind word, no matter how small, can be just what someone else needs to hear. Peterson shows that kindness magnified back, creating a community of helpers. The text’s scansion flows well throughout with a steady beat worthy of Ada’s breakdancing. ASL translations highlight a word in each spread and provide directions for signing the letters. Fischer’s cartoon illustrations feature friendly forest animals wearing various articles of human clothing; the muted earth tones work well for the woodland setting and make Ada’s purple tutu stand out.
A sweet, community-building story that highlights different abilities and the importance of offering a helping hand.Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 9788269219616
Page Count: 39
Publisher: Launch Mission Publishing
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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