This odd couple doesn’t need any lessons on friendship, though perhaps they could use some pointers on safe skateboarding.
A Type-A personality learns to walk in someone else’s shoes (literally!) after an accident.
Les is the left leg to Ronnie’s right, and though they are both of a warm, light-brown hue, the two could not be more different. Les is precise and ordered, matches and plans which sock to wear, likes sensible shoes, and does not dance. Ronnie is laid-back and creative, wears whichever sock stinks the least, likes wild shoes that are impractical, and loves to party. Needless to say, life together is difficult for this pair of opposites. One day, out skateboarding, to Les’ displeasure, Ronnie suffers a sprained ankle and is out of commission for a bit. Les at first likes the routine that Ronnie’s forced to follow, the calm, the predictability. But then boredom sets in. How far will Les step out of the comfort zone to cheer Ronnie up and bring some life back into their routine? Quite a bit, and Les actually has fun doing it! Kolb’s pencil-and-digital illustrations play up the dichotomy between the two legs, their faces’ eyebrows and mouths (drawn just above the ankles) making them as emotive as any emoji. The sequence in which Les lets loose is especially enjoyable and illustrates just how awkward and uncomfortable it can be at first, though by the end Les and Ronnie are both all smiles.
This odd couple doesn’t need any lessons on friendship, though perhaps they could use some pointers on safe skateboarding. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-399-54619-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
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
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.
The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.
Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780063329560
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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