Right on! (Picture book. 4-6)
A grandparent talent show at school has Jeremy wondering if his grandma has a unique skill to display.
Stella’s grandmother is a doctor; Theo’s abuelo is an artist; Celeste’s ye-ye is a baker. It seems everyone’s grandparent can do something special, like salsa dancing, hula hooping, ballet dancing, or creating balloon animals. Jeremy remembers how his grandma iced his twisted ankle, unevenly painted the living room wall, and almost burned her building down when they went to play basketball and she left the oven on. These activities did not make her a doctor, an artist, or a chef. Later at home, Jeremy and his grandma explore other possibilities—juggling? Magic tricks?—without much success. Feeling low but still undeterred, Jeremy suggests they go outside to play some basketball, and sure enough, Grandma’s got game. “She ran fast. Then she dribbled the ball, took two giant steps, leaped into the air, raised the ball towards the rim, and…Whoosh! Right through the net.” At the talent show, Jeremy is proud of his grandma’s special talent and declares, “Oh yeah, that’s right…my grandma can dunk!” This Belgian import features comical cartoon drawings on alternating white and pale-colored backgrounds of a white boy and his gray-haired and rotund yet agile grandmother impressing a multiethnic class of Asian, black, and Latino children with grandparents who represent today’s educated, active, lively baby-boomer generation.
Right on! (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: May 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-60537-332-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clavis
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2017
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
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily.
A group of young “dinosauruses” go out into the world on their own.
A fuchsia little Hugasaurus and her Pappysaur (both of whom resemble Triceratops) have never been apart before, but Hugasaurus happily heads off with lunchbox in hand and “wonder in her heart” to make new friends. The story has a first-day-of-school feeling, but Hugasaurus doesn’t end up in a formal school environment; rather, she finds herself on a playground with other little prehistoric creatures, though no teacher or adult seems to be around. At first, the new friends laugh and play. But Hugasaurus’ pals begin to squabble, and play comes to a halt. As she wonders what to do, a fuzzy platypus playmate asks some wise questions (“What…would your Pappy say to do? / What makes YOU feel better?”), and Hugasaurus decides to give everyone a hug—though she remembers to ask permission first. Slowly, good humor is restored and play begins anew with promises to be slow to anger and, in general, to help create a kinder world. Short rhyming verses occasionally use near rhyme but also include fun pairs like ripples and double-triples. Featuring cozy illustrations of brightly colored creatures, the tale sends a strong message about appropriate and inappropriate ways to resolve conflict, the final pages restating the lesson plainly in a refrain that could become a classroom motto. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-82869-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
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