bookshelf

NAUGHTY TOES

Name: NAUGHTY TOES
Author: Ann Bonwill
ISBN: 978-1-58925-103-8

by Ann Bonwill & illustrated by Teresa Murfin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2011

A refreshing take on the need to follow one's own heart—or feet.

bookshelf

Chloe knows how hard it can be to follow the beat of your own dancing drum.

Her graceful sister Belinda perfectly meets all requirements of Madame Mina's ballet class. Chloe, however, is the constant misfit; she chooses a multi-hued ensemble, her pigtails fizz out and she crashes into a fellow dancer, the lone boy in her class. Madame's descriptive instructions successfully encourage almost all her young pupils to emulate a classic ballerina. "Sway like flowers!… Flutter like butterflies!" But instead, Chloe moves like a “cloud with gusto.” Her teacher's sharp reprimands (“naughty toes!”) point to Chloe's role in their final performance (her sister stars as the fairy princess, but Chloe is a rock). The initially rigid instructor and piano accompanist demonstrate a more receptive demeanor by recital's end; their gift to Chloe reflects a growing appreciation for her toe-tapping spirit. Chloe's deadpan narration is efficient. “My sister, Belinda, is a ballerina. I, Chloe, am not.” Pitch-perfect body language reflects Chloe's embarrassment and her battle to express herself. Light graph-paper backgrounds try to exert order, while soft colors accentuate each contrasting behavior. Chloe's family shines, supporting their daughter's individuality without restricting her style.

A refreshing take on the need to follow one's own heart—or feet. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011

ISBN: 978-1-58925-103-8

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Tiger Tales

Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
WHEN MERMAIDS SLEEP
by Ann Bonwill ; illustrated by Steve Johnson ; Lou Fancher

- BOOK REVIEW
I AM NOT A COPYCAT!
by Ann Bonwill ; illustrated by Simon Rickerty

- BOOK REVIEW
THE FRAZZLE FAMILY FINDS A WAY
by Ann Bonwill ; illustrated by Stephen Gammell

bookshelf

HELLO THERE, SUNSHINE

by Tabitha Brown ; illustrated by Olivia Duchess ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 11, 2025

Being kind and helpful lights up the day from within in this inspiring and idyllic slice-of-life tale.

bookshelf

Actor, social media star, and entrepreneur Brown pens a joyful paean to positive thinking in her children’s debut.

Brown-skinned Tab rides a strawberry-themed bike, accompanied by a curly-haired black dog, Grady. Tab’s dazzling smile and wide eyes signal the upbeat theme echoed in the text, celebrating the sun’s warmth, which “fills everyone up with joy.” But Tab’s mood shifts, as it’s a “cloudy and gray” June day. Alert readers will spot the dog’s smiling countenance and note glimpses of sunny yellow butterflies and flowers. Mama’s reassurance that there’s “always a chance” for sunshine also underscores the optimism. Tab and Grady bike through suburban streets “to find the sun.” Along the way, the two stop to assist a neighbor building a birdhouse, loft a kite for friends Frankie and Fonte, and lend a hand to others, all while still having fun. Mama steers Tab toward an eventual understanding of the real source of joy: Though the sun didn’t appear, “I brightened everyone’s day!” The illustrations subtly underscore the message of this radiant story as touches of gold lighten the palette, which ends with sunny brilliance. Most characters read Black, though Tab’s community includes people who vary in skin tone, body type, and ability.

Being kind and helpful lights up the day from within in this inspiring and idyllic slice-of-life tale. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: March 11, 2025

ISBN: 9780063342262

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: yesterday

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

bookshelf

ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

bookshelf

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)