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I LOVE MY MOM

Ollie B., a gray-and-white striped creature with long ears and floppy legs, tells readers just how he and his mom spend time together. “We look / and talk, / we giggle / and walk. // We see a duck and a dragonfly. // We see orange fish swimming by.” The utter simplicity of the text suits this small celebration to the youngest listeners, but there is some sweet sophistication in the illustrations. The aforementioned duck is a topiary waterfowl; the orange of the fish swimming by is echoed in Mom’s polka-dot bag and the curves of their smiles. It’s an undemanding little gift book that speaks simply. A companion, I Love My Dad (ISBN: 978-1-4169-8319-4; April 2010), treats Ollie’s relationship with his dad with a similarly light touch. (Picture book. 2-5)

Pub Date: March 23, 2010

ISBN: 978-1-4169-8318-7

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2010

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EVERYWHERE YOU ARE

A soothing bedtime reminder of a parent’s unconditional love.

Grammy Award–winning singer/songwriter Monét’s picture-book debut reassures the very young that their caregivers are always watching over them.

A smiling yellow star watches the equally cheerful moon; both are heavily anthropomorphized, with eyelashes for the moon and pink cheeks for the star. A page turn reveals the star, now downcast and in the corner of a mostly dark spread: “Sometimes the sky is dark and you can’t see the moon at all.” The following spread, depicting a sparkly sky with both characters back in view, reminds children that the moon is there, even when it’s not visible: “Think of me as the moon / It’s always in the sky / Just like I will forever be / a bright light in your life.” Both orbs beam. “I’ll always be your moon / You’ll always be my star / Just keep me in your heart and / I’ll be everywhere you are.” This becomes the refrain after a few more verses that continue the theme of the moon as a metaphor for emotionally present, ever-loving caregivers. Little ones will happily repeat the words as they’re lulled to sleep. The book ends with a heartfelt dedication from the author to her daughter and to parents who balance caregiving duties with careers. Monét notes that she set out to show children that their parents’ devotion endures no matter what—a goal achieved by both text and art.

A soothing bedtime reminder of a parent’s unconditional love. (Picture book. 2-4)

Pub Date: June 24, 2025

ISBN: 9780593698419

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025

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PERFECTLY NORMAN

From the Big Bright Feelings series

A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.

A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.

Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”

A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)

Pub Date: May 1, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018

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