A strong and creative young narrator makes this clever family tale resonate.
A boy searches for a solution that will enable his grandfather and a bee to enjoy mornings without bothering each other in this rhyming picture book.
Every morning, the unnamed narrator wakes so he can watch his grandfather’s daily encounters with a bee who lives on the porch. First, his grandfather has to put in his dentures and say a prayer. The boy observes: “I don’t think, wink, wink that Grandpa can talk to God without his special teeth.” Soon Grandpa and his dog, Sparks, are off to the porch with a hot mug of tea. But as soon as Grandpa sits down, Bizzy Bzzz appears; soon the two are dancing around the porch while the narrator laughs. After Grandpa nearly falls (rescued by the narrator and Sparks), the boy devises a possible solution. Maybe Bizzy Bzzz isn’t after Grandpa but the honey in his tea. Peagler, whose previous books are for an older audience, offers syncopated rhyming phrases within long blocks of prose; the formatting may cause the young audience (or parents reading aloud) to stumble before finding the shifting rhythm. The narrator and his grandfather are clearly a loving pair. Digital pictures from Blueberry Illustrations deftly show the affectionate relationship between the two, who are both brown-skinned. Subtle references to faith ground this book in a spiritual setting without preaching, and the message of finding a solution that allows kindness to all parties is well delivered.
A strong and creative young narrator makes this clever family tale resonate.Pub Date: May 29, 2021
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Script Novel Publishing
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2021
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 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
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