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FLOWER GIRL

A dream come true for little girls who love to dress up, but more than a bit too syrupy for some.

A little girl is thrilled to be a flower girl in her aunt Penny’s wedding. 

There are so many things she’ll get to do. She’ll have fancy shoes, a bouquet and flowers in her hair, and, best of all, she’ll wear a lovely white dress just like the bride’s. On the day of the wedding, she’s nervous, but she reassures the ring bearer with a somewhat unappreciated good-luck kiss. Everything goes smoothly, and there’s dancing and cake too. Bottner’s slight, lighter-than-air tale, written in the simple first-person voice of the tiny heroine, takes its cue from the perennial obsession with weddings, princesses and the like. Grier’s wedding-album photos neatly capture every moment of this little girl’s special day. It’s all very sweet and charming, and young girls who read it will probably sigh and wish for their own chance to be in a wedding. But there might be some uncomfortable caveats for the adults sharing it with them. It seems staged and contrived and too darn cute. The narrator has no name, although the bride, groom (this is a "traditional" wedding all the way) and ring bearer are all named. At the end, her only wish for happiness is to be a bride someday.

A dream come true for little girls who love to dress up, but more than a bit too syrupy for some. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: April 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-7614-6119-7

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish

Review Posted Online: Feb. 28, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2012

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PAPA DOESN'T DO ANYTHING!

A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.

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In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.

Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.

A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: May 13, 2025

ISBN: 9781250393975

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025

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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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