An endearing and hopeful expression of spontaneous fun and togetherness.
A young Korean immigrant hosts a cultural get-together honoring the leaders of tomorrow.
In this follow-up to Danbi Leads the School Parade (2020), the title character has an ambitious plan. Proudly sharing her Korean heritage, she invites her classmates to celebrate Children’s Day—“the day all your wishes come true!”—with the promise of castles, train rides, and “thousands of chocolate chip cookies.” (Mommy later explains that the day is also about “celebrating the children on Earth who will one day lead the world.”) On the big day, when sunny weather darkens into a thunderstorm that not only crashes the outdoor picnic, but also threatens to dampen high spirits, Danbi’s family-owned deli transforms into a treasure-hunt venue stocked with fixings for a hands-on adventure. In an inspired bid to save her party, Danbi creates an edible “volcano” covered in whipped cream and cherry syrup, sparking everyone’s imagination and eager participation. Before long, a “sandwich train” materializes, comprising cars filled with ingredients ranging from ham and bulgogi to cheese and curry. Relishing their teamwork and accomplishments, Danbi feels a “pink, happy tickle” in her tummy where once there had been butterflies. By the time the skies are clear again, Mom lifts her rainbow cake from the steamer and chocolate chip cookies emerge from the oven. Kim’s exquisite artwork renders distinct personalities and characters represented by diverse skin colors and hairstyles, priceless expressions, and irrepressible energy. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An endearing and hopeful expression of spontaneous fun and togetherness. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-451-47893-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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