A joyful and dignified snapshot of rural family life.
A family picks tea leaves on a mountaintop in China.
Mama and the two children (the elder of whom narrates) wake early one morning to accompany Baba to his tea garden. It’s a special treat, as Baba usually goes alone. They eat a filling breakfast in their cramped but cozy home, pack lunches, strap wicker baskets to their backs, and head out. Illustrations depicting their early-morning trek feature foggy landscapes and steep climbs full of wonder. The kids are excited about it all—the bamboo partridges hiding among the plants, the praying mantis they spot, their echoing songs and laughter, the competition to see which of them can pick more tea leaves. It’s tough work and irritating to the skin, but the narrator’s enthusiasm never dims. Even during their lunch break, the kids dart around, picking fruit and fetching water. After a nap, some rain, more partridge sightings, and more work, the sun begins to set, and a lovely panorama shows families walking down mountain paths with full baskets on their backs. They bring their bags to a bustling tea factory, where the tea farmers line up to sell their harvest. Reminiscent of Diego Rivera’s work, Yu’s artwork, with its bold strokes and earthy colors, lovingly portrays a hardworking farming family. Xu’s text, translated from Chinese, perfectly captures a child’s perspective, acknowledging the characters’ travails while focusing on everyday pleasures.
A joyful and dignified snapshot of rural family life. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9781623546236
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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
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
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