Keep sniffing to find a better story; though innocuous, this one is unlikely to be a favorite.
Brock Eastman teams up with his 7-year-old daughter in the family-oriented follow-up to Daddy’s Favorite Sound (2019).
In this tale that’s loosely inspired by a passage from 2 Corinthians about the “pleasing aroma of Christ,” Little Lion catches a whiff of delicious cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven. This sends the anthropomorphic cub, who wears overalls and a T-shirt, on a quest to discover her mother’s favorite smell. Depicted in Miles’ illustrations as variously colored inky emanations, some smells encountered along the way are pleasant, such as the smells of rain, campfire, and fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies. Others are not and are clearly presented in an attempt to be humorous, as not even a lion is likely to claim dirty diaper, hot compost, or generally odorless tulips among their favorite scents. After encouraging Little Lion to “keep sniffing” throughout the day, Mommy Lion finally gives in while snuggling together with her cub before bed: Her favorite smell is the smell of her children. This lion family inhabits a comfortably appointed home and wears Western clothing (but no shoes). The text is on the long side for a preschool audience, and the repetition of Little Lion’s question and Mommy’s answers, rendered as a rhyming couplet, grows tedious. The scriptural connection is a stretch, a closing prayer a bit trite, and suggested discussion questions tepid, though the recipe for chocolate-chip cookies might tempt some readers.
Keep sniffing to find a better story; though innocuous, this one is unlikely to be a favorite. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-7369-7476-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harvest House
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
Fans of this popular series will find this a rewarding addition to family Easter celebrations.
Bergren and Bryant attempt to explain Easter to young children in a gentle, nonthreatening manner, with partial success.
When Little Cub questions her father about Easter, Papa Bear explains the religious significance of the holiday in various symbolic ways to his cub. He uses familiar things from their world, such as an egg and a fallen tree, to draw parallels with aspects of the Christian story. Papa Bear discusses his close relationships with Jesus and God, encouraging Little Cub to communicate with God on her own. The theme focuses on the renewal of life and the positive aspects of loving God and Jesus. Easter is presented as a celebration of eternal life, but the story skirts the issue of the crucifixion entirely. Some adults will find this an inadequate or even dishonest approach to the Easter story, but others will appreciate the calm and soothing text as a way to begin to understand a difficult subject. Bryant’s charming watercolor illustrations of the polar bear family, their cozy home and snowy forest scenes add to the overall mellow effect.
Fans of this popular series will find this a rewarding addition to family Easter celebrations. (Religion/picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 15, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-307-73072-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: WaterBrook
Review Posted Online: Dec. 11, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2013
Stick to separate books about parental love and prayer instead.
This Is Us actor Metz and her partner, songwriter Collins, present a rhyming children’s book about prayer and parental love.
“When I talk to God, guess what I do? / It’s really quite simple: I talk about you.” Fields’ pencil and digital illustrations show different parent-child animal pairs throughout, from bears to otters to skunks, ducks, deer, and more. But from this auspicious beginning, the authors’ point of view and direct address to “you,” the child, makes the majority of the pages seem like affirmations of what they love about their child and not what the parent actually prays for. Adults reading this aloud may see this as a prayer of thanksgiving for their child’s gifts and qualities, but little listeners will not make that connection. In the final pages, the parent tells the child that they can talk to God, too, and that God is always by their side. The last spread states, “You’re my sweetest prayer.” While the individual parts are sweet and affirming of a parent’s love and pride in their child, the sum of those parts isn’t what’s advertised in the title and repetitive refrain “When I talk to God, / I talk about you.” The gentle artwork in soft colors anthropomorphizes the animals’ facial expressions to make their loving relationships clear. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Stick to separate books about parental love and prayer instead. (Religious picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-52524-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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