Gently radical.
A band of young naturalists leap forward for change in Morales’ eco-conscious appeal.
“How shall we begin?” The inquiry comes from three diminutive “rebeldes” (Spanish for rebels)—one with basalt-colored skin, one with rich brown skin, and another with vitiligo of the skin. Morales pulls various streaks of inspiration—an Olmec head, a blue land crab—together to weave earth-toned artwork that amazes. So what does it mean to be a little rebel? Apart from appearing in “all colors and forms,” little rebels “take the time we need to find each other,” ask questions, use words to “shape the world we want to live in,” and dream big. The three youngsters merrily travel across the land, joined by a dog, butterflies, and a small bird, before one suggests playing with agüita (water). Arriving at the lagoon, the rebels instead find a dried-up bed of cracked soil, much to their dismay. And then, “KEEEK.” Their little feathered friend falls through a crack. Calling on their older brethren—las abuelas rebeldes—for guidance, the little rebels rise to save the day. Sprinkling a few Spanish words among the predominantly English text, Morales wistfully invites readers to consider their relationship with nature, encouraging self-reflection and creativity in equal measure. Though overstuffed with narration, speech bubbles, and occasional comics-style phrases, this rallying cry nonetheless beckons all dreamers. Publishes simultaneously in Spanish.
Gently radical. (guidance on being a “little rebel”) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780823447541
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Neal Porter/Holiday House
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
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
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...
Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.
The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 21, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
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