Two balloons break free from a vendor's colorful bunch, and, in the spirit of all good runaways, head for the big top. They help the clown get laughs, water the elephants, save the trapeze artist who misses his swing, dole out popcorn to the spectators, and make the strong man look good, among other activities. Then, unexpectedly, they get blown out of the sky when the human cannonball catches them in the wrong place at the wrong time. The balloons plop to the floor. Not to worry. The vendor spots them, gives them an infusion of helium, and they rejoin their clutch of comrades. Schumaker (Dance!, 1996) keeps the story lighthearted; even the downing of the balloons provokes little concern as things seem bound to turn out right. The opening and closing pages of the book can be read or sung to ``Sing a Song of Sixpence'': ``Sing a song of circus:/The circus comes to town,/And in it are ten elephants,/six lions, and a clown,'' while in the middle of the book, the balloons narrate the adventures they hope to have. Schumaker's seven-color, hand- separated illustrations are pleasingly active yet minimal, with all the bustle expected at the circus, further energized by the swirling strings attached to the balloons. Is a sequel in the works? On the last page, the two balloons have escaped again. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-15-201363-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1997
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
One of the watershed moments in African-American history—the defeat of James Braddock at the hands of Joe Louis—is here given an earnest picture-book treatment. Despite his lack of athletic ability, Sammy wants desperately to be a great boxer, like his hero, getting boxing lessons from his friend Ernie in exchange for help with schoolwork. However hard he tries, though, Sammy just can’t box, and his father comforts him, reminding him that he doesn’t need to box: Joe Louis has shown him that he “can be the champion at anything [he] want[s].” The high point of this offering is the big fight itself, everyone crowded around the radio in Mister Jake’s general store, the imagined fight scenes played out in soft-edged sepia frames. The main story, however, is so bent on providing Sammy and the reader with object lessons that all subtlety is lost, as Mister Jake, Sammy’s father, and even Ernie hammer home the message. Both text and oil-on-canvas-paper illustrations go for the obvious angle, making the effort as a whole worthy, but just a little too heavy-handed. (Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: May 1, 2004
ISBN: 1-58430-161-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2004
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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