A sweet story that will have children clamoring to see a show, perhaps with their own bears.
Don Freeman’s beloved Corduroy experiences an unforgettable night at the theater in this debut picture book from Tony- and Academy Award–winning actress Davis with co-author Hennessy and illustrator Wheeler.
When Corduroy accompanies Lisa and her mother to the theater to see a dramatization of nursery rhymes, mischief and fun inevitably follow. After he’s accidentally dropped before the curtain goes up, the ever curious bear ambles through the theater, eager to find the perfect vantage point from which to view the production. Corduroy’s adventures take him from the orchestra pit to the costume room and finally onto the stage itself! The author’s simple text conveys both her love of theater and the magical experience of a child who’s brought to see a show for the first time. Lisa may be sitting in the plush red seats enjoying the show, but the real production is backstage, which readers experience through Corduroy’s eyes. One of Wheeler’s talents as an illustrator is facial expressions, and she captures Corduroy’s elation, trepidation, and fearlessness as he freewheels from adventure to adventure even as she successfully mimics Freeman’s style. Perhaps the book’s most valuable visual aspect is featuring people of color in all elements of the theater, from Lisa and her mother, of course, to the orchestra pit, stage manager, and actors. Even Lisa’s doll, shown at the end, is of color, providing much-needed representation.
A sweet story that will have children clamoring to see a show, perhaps with their own bears. (Picture book 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-425-29147-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2018
Warmly buoyant.
A Black family of four enjoys a day at the pool.
Readers may recognize two of the family members from Bolling and Juanita’s Together We Ride (2022), which centered on a father teaching his young daughter to ride a bike. This latest takes a similar tack, as the mother now helps her young son learn to swim. The child is uncertain, but with her encouragement, he dips a toe into the water and picks up the fundamentals: lifting his head above the water, floating, pumping his arms and legs. There are snafus along the way—the child initially sinks, but Mom is right there. Finally the boy strikes out to swim, “On my own, / in the zone.” The whole family is reassuring, cheering the child on. Big sister does the backstroke and a handstand, displaying the confidence the little one is still learning. Brief but upbeat rhyming verses will especially appeal to beginning readers. Juanita’s carefully composed, muted line illustrations shine in the details, from swim bonnets on Mom and big sister to a mermaid tattoo on Dad’s side. Touching moments in the art pair well with the text. Black family pride and joy abound—this is a family that allows its little ones the space to make forays into independence while supporting them every step of the way. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Warmly buoyant. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2023
ISBN: 9781797212494
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
PERSPECTIVES
A quiet book about making a giant leap.
Lottie knows something no one else knows. Her mother and brother don’t know. Her swimming instructor does not know, and the other children in swim class certainly don’t know.
There is a shark that lives in the pool. It wants to eat Lottie—only Lottie—and Lottie is not going to let it get anywhere near her. Most children have had moments when they’ve sat on the sidelines watching others laugh and play because they were too scared to just dive in, and that is precisely where Lottie finds herself. Lucky for her, Walter shows up just in time. He sings, they read books, play in bubbles, and even share the same favorite food. But when it comes time for Lottie to face her fears, can Walter truly help? Walter, as readers and Lottie see but her family may not, is an enormous walrus. Walker’s soft and appropriately watery illustrations complement and extend her whimsical text, lending a dreamlike feel to the story. Readers will discern the shadowy, predatory shape of the shark below the surface of the water even as Lottie’s classmates splash and play, and they will sympathize, and they will giggle at the depictions of Walter’s huge bulk in Lottie’s tidy urban home while believing that Walter will protect her. Lottie, her mother, and her brother have light-brown skin and black hair.
A quiet book about making a giant leap. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 7, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-328-47038-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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