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I LOVE YOU MORE THAN ALL THE STARS

Name: I LOVE YOU MORE THAN ALL THE STARS
Author: Becky Davies
ISBN: 978-1-68010-263-5

by Becky Davies ; illustrated by Dana Brown ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 7, 2021

True love may last “longer than a day, a week, a month, a year,” but the memory of this book may not.

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A poem of love is shared between two young children throughout an adventurous day.

Two children with pale skin and stringy hair cavort across backgrounds that range from realistic settings of a grassy hill at night or a boat on a body of water to fanciful locations such as the inside of a raindrop and a ladder made of starlight. All the while, the text of the book professes a love that is greater than “all the stars / that shimmer in the night” and is “softer than a snowflake dance / as crystals gently twirl.” The poem is sweet, the sort of sentimental verse that some people eat up and others find unpleasantly treacly. Readers with a determined sweet tooth will find a selection of vocabulary words (shimmer, endless, swirl, etc.) and concepts that will springboard young minds to abstract conversations: What is “sweeter than rain,” for instance, and what is “wider than the world”? The illustrations—silver linework primarily over navy with pops of a salmon-y pink—are pleasant if somewhat characterless. The text on most pages is set in the same silver, a design choice that may make the words difficult to discern, especially when they appear against the salmon-y pink. Educators and librarians with excellent eyesight will find this a serviceable player in love-themed storytimes.

True love may last “longer than a day, a week, a month, a year,” but the memory of this book may not. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-68010-263-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Tiger Tales

Review Posted Online: July 26, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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by Becky Davies ; illustrated by Patricia Hu

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CITIES OF THE WORLD
by Becky Davies ; illustrated by Josie Portillo

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LITTLE TURTLE AND THE CHANGING SEA
by Becky Davies ; illustrated by Jennie Poh

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WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

by Gregory R. Lange ; illustrated by Sydney Hanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.

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All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.

Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)

Pub Date: May 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

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THE COOL BEAN MAKES A SPLASH

From the I Can Read! series

by Jory John ; illustrated by Pete Oswald ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 26, 2024

Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.

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The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.

Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.

Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)