A touching tale of love, community, and expression.
When confronted with grief, a South Asian girl uses flowers to express a feeling that defies words.
Juhi’s Appa has taught her “the language of flowers.” She knows that stargazer lilies, irises, and jasmine all represent different types of love. Thanks to her knowledge of flowers, Juhi is also aware of the exciting events happening in her neighborhood, from the new baby whose birth requires a cheerful daffodil to the 14th wedding anniversary that calls for dahlias to the birthday celebration that’s marked with peonies. Of all the clients who visit her family flower shop, though, Juhi especially appreciates Mr. Potter, whose fascinating history and zest for life are reflected in his preference for bright bouquets. When Mr. Potter gets sick, Juhi sends him special flowers for his hospital room. But when he dies, Juhi feels silenced by grief—until she realizes that the traditional funeral bouquet her father assembles isn’t the way she wants to remember Mr. Potter’s life. Smith’s spare but graceful prose is brought to life by Asis’ vibrant artwork. Flowers and people alike pop against white backdrops; visible brushstrokes imbue the tale with intimacy. Juhi’s ability to communicate complex emotions in nonverbal ways is a joy to behold. It’s especially refreshing to read a story about a South Asian girl whose ethnic identity informs but doesn’t determine her story. Mr. Potter presents white; Juhi’s community is diverse.
A touching tale of love, community, and expression. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2024
ISBN: 9781915244864
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Lantana
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2024
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.
Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250393975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An instructive tale about big feelings, lightened up by a furious kid’s theatrics.
An angry child attempts to calm down.
A kid with paper-white skin, clad in a blue dress and striped tights, makes an absurd request: “Can we get a pet penguin, name it Marshmallow, and feed it carrots?” Mom, off-stage, says simply, “Not today,” and the tot transforms into a rather odd creature: a spicy nugget! The nugget is imperfectly ovoid in form, with red rosy cheeks, rage-filled dot-eyes, and a spiraling black-hole mouth. The sight gag works beautifully: When one feels truly angry, all poise disappears, leaving only a flailing ball of rage. Our protagonist hurls a teddy bear, unsuccessfully tries out a list of calming methods, and finally retreats to bed, where “I can feel my breathing; I know that I am safe.” The youngster reverts back to human form, and Mom arrives with kind words: “You are not your big feelings. You are not your angry thoughts.” The takeaway is unmistakable, especially at the story’s conclusion: It’s OK to get mad and important to practice coping strategies. The young narrator expresses emotion with fabulous vigor, though the story’s lilting rhyme scheme occasionally distracts from these outbursts with cuteness. Nonetheless, this increasingly enraged nugget-child is irresistible; anyone who’s grappled with overwhelming emotions will relate—in a word, everyone.
An instructive tale about big feelings, lightened up by a furious kid’s theatrics. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
ISBN: 9798217042142
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
SEEN & HEARD
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