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MAKE IT FASHION

From the McClure Twins series

A prime example of Black joy in a picture book.

Ava and Alexis love being twins, but when their fashion sense differs, will it drive them apart?

Ava and Alexis McClure, real-life YouTube personalities, learn early that being identical twins means being the same in many ways. They have the same face, the same room, the same friends, the same pesky brother. So when they begin planning their first “Twintastic Fashion Show,” they assume they will—and must—agree on everything. But when it comes time to choose their outfits, they discover that they have quite different styles. While Ava “loves everything fancy,” Alexis “likes to keep it old-school cool.” Their disagreement causes tension, but the one thing they know is that they have to work as a team. So they tackle the other tasks first, and when they come back to deciding what they will wear, they have an idea that will suit both their styles. A final spread shows a series of photos of the twins posing in stylish outfits, with accompanying “Fierce Fashion Tips.” The twins’ account of their relationship, their differences, and their dedication to teamwork is endearing and memorable. Animation-style illustrations use a pink, purple, and blue color scheme with accents of flowers and stars. These dynamic Black girls are pictured sporting various natural hairstyles. Readers who aren’t already fans will be curious to discover the twins’ online presence.

A prime example of Black joy in a picture book. (Picture book. 3-8)

Pub Date: June 29, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-06-302952-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: June 1, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021

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CARPENTER'S HELPER

Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.

A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.

Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)

Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: March 16, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random

Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

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

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