A charming and important entry encouraging the joyous celebration of cultural heritage.
When a young Muslim boy receives a well-loved teddy bear for Eid, he’s encouraged to discover for himself what its name is.
Abdullah carefully unwraps his parents’ gift and discovers a plush bear softened by years of love—it’s his father’s childhood toy. Ecstatic, he asks what its name is. “Why don’t you guess?” says Abba. “You’ll know in your heart when you’ve found the right one.” Over the next week, Abdullah takes his toy everywhere, trying on many different names. He considers his classmates’ names, like Katie or Anna, and old names he sees on museum exhibits, such as Archibald, but none seem to fit. Still, Abdullah’s sure that the bear has a name. After hearing a bedtime story about Abba’s Pakistani grandfather, he drifts off to sleep while looking at a family picture. Suddenly, it hits him. Maybe his bear has a name like his! Inspired by Hanif’s experiences growing up with a lack of Pakistani Muslim representation in literature, as well as her time spent working with South Asian children in Glasgow, this tale emphasizes the importance of recognizing one’s cultures and traditions through the power of names. Benmouyal’s blend of hand-drawn textures with a digital finish, dominated by hues of blue, green, gold, and red, convey Abdullah’s love for his new toy with expressive facial features and gestures. A short glossary of unfamiliar words supports comprehension without disrupting the flow of the story.
A charming and important entry encouraging the joyous celebration of cultural heritage. (the story behind the book) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
ISBN: 9781782509585
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Floris
Review Posted Online: Nov. 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2025
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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