The concept of multiple intelligences takes a joy ride.
What will happen when five bizarre creatures, all cohabiting an equally topsy-turvy house, are visited by the Perfect One?
The lightly self-deprecating misfits all have unique peculiarities: “four big holes in the middle of his tummy,” “folded in half,” “feeble, always tired and sleepy,” “upside down,” and “all wrong, from head to toe. A bundle of oddities.” The sophisticated, whimsical, mixed-media art renders all the characters benign and lovable: the tummy-holed one smiles as he munches an apple (where will it go?); a collage of folded newspaper is clothing for the apparently female, folded-in-half misfit; the rotund, all-wrong misfit rides, absurdly, a tiny red bicycle. Both art and text continue to enchant and amuse, as a character described as extraordinary and perfect—but equally ridiculous in appearance, with his long orange tresses and antiquated bloomers—suddenly shows up to visit the misfits. This “Perfect One”—who is actually perfectly vain and condescending—temporarily deflates the egos of the misfits by challenging them to come up with solid, purposeful ideas. However, they readily and nonaggressively push back against the Perfect One’s accusation that they are therefore good for nothing. The anti-bullying and pro-individuality messages are cloaked in art and text that promise smiles, if not laughter, from readers of all ages.
The concept of multiple intelligences takes a joy ride. (Picture book. 4-10)Pub Date: May 4, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-84780-637-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Review Posted Online: Feb. 13, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2017
Being kind and helpful lights up the day from within in this inspiring and idyllic slice-of-life tale.
Actor, social media star, and entrepreneur Brown pens a joyful paean to positive thinking in her children’s debut.
Brown-skinned Tab rides a strawberry-themed bike, accompanied by a curly-haired black dog, Grady. Tab’s dazzling smile and wide eyes signal the upbeat theme echoed in the text, celebrating the sun’s warmth, which “fills everyone up with joy.” But Tab’s mood shifts, as it’s a “cloudy and gray” June day. Alert readers will spot the dog’s smiling countenance and note glimpses of sunny yellow butterflies and flowers. Mama’s reassurance that there’s “always a chance” for sunshine also underscores the optimism. Tab and Grady bike through suburban streets “to find the sun.” Along the way, the two stop to assist a neighbor building a birdhouse, loft a kite for friends Frankie and Fonte, and lend a hand to others, all while still having fun. Mama steers Tab toward an eventual understanding of the real source of joy: Though the sun didn’t appear, “I brightened everyone’s day!” The illustrations subtly underscore the message of this radiant story as touches of gold lighten the palette, which ends with sunny brilliance. Most characters read Black, though Tab’s community includes people who vary in skin tone, body type, and ability.
Being kind and helpful lights up the day from within in this inspiring and idyllic slice-of-life tale. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 11, 2025
ISBN: 9780063342262
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 21, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists.
How to raise money for a coveted poster: put your friends to work!
John, founder of the FUBU fashion line and a Shark Tank venture capitalist, offers a self-referential blueprint for financial success. Having only half of the $10 he needs for a Minka J poster, Daymond forks over $1 to buy a plain T-shirt, paints a picture of the pop star on it, sells it for $5, and uses all of his cash to buy nine more shirts. Then he recruits three friends to decorate them with his design and help sell them for an unspecified amount (from a conveniently free and empty street-fair booth) until they’re gone. The enterprising entrepreneur reimburses himself for the shirts and splits the remaining proceeds, which leaves him with enough for that poster as well as a “brand-new business book,” while his friends express other fiscal strategies: saving their share, spending it all on new art supplies, or donating part and buying a (math) book with the rest. (In a closing summation, the author also suggests investing in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrency.) Though Miles cranks up the visual energy in her sparsely detailed illustrations by incorporating bright colors and lots of greenbacks, the actual advice feels a bit vague. Daymond is Black; most of the cast are people of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists. (Picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-56727-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
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