A hypnotic joy.
Two siblings explore the quixotic wonders of the desert in Peña’s author-illustrator debut.
A speck of matter traverses the sky with a resounding “KRAKBOOM,” landing with a final “PLONK!” The kids—both cued Latine, one bespectacled and squat, the other tall, with a long black braid—set off to investigate. As they clamber over a rock wall, the desert stretches before them. Past their border city and its bulldozers and concrete, the protagonists “follow the trail of sundust, to where the sky has no walls and daydreams soar.” The sundust flitters, a luminescent streak of rich pinks and purples that intoxicatingly unwinds from page to page, touching the spiny ocotillo, a field of creosote bushes, and an uninhabited turtle’s shell. Peña’s splendid pencil-and-gouache artwork contrasts the earth-kissed browns and greens of the desert with all the nooks, crannies, and cracks that the sundust slips into, magnifying the natural beauty of the desert with “Sun’s tough love.” With an adventurous spirit, the children gaze upon the rocks that “remember everything from a time before,” cherish the desert heat that deepens their brown skin, and swim alongside the River Spirit. Suddenly, a colibrí (Spanish for hummingbird) soars over their heads, and the brave youth grab onto the bird—now huge—as they’re whisked away. Punctuated by the occasional speech bubble, the steady, elegiac collective narration underscores the ties between siblings and their love for their desert home.
A hypnotic joy. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
ISBN: 9780593700112
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Kokila
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
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
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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