Nurtures encouragement, grit, and love.
An injured newborn elephant gains strength from a loving older sister.
Ely’s legs are bent and stuck when he’s born, which means he’s unable to stand and go to the watering hole. Big sister Enid trumpets a loud, reassuring song. Her brother tries again and again. He pushes, wobbles, and falls again and again, but he perseveres. Finally, with legs splayed and unsteady, Ely stands! Mama Echo cautions that Ely will still need help. Enid vows to be her brother’s protector. They bellow silly songs: “Too-wee, too-wee, too-weeeee!” and splash in the mud, declaring their sibling strength by shouting, “We are MIGHTY MUDDY US!” But as Ely grows, his independence does, too. His legs still wobble at times, but his adventurous spirit is strong. Enid is sad her brother doesn’t need her anymore, but when a dust storm separates the two, Enid realizes she needs her brother just as much. Levis and Santoso, the duo behind other inspired animal stories such as Feathers Together (2022), bring these lovable pachyderms to life. Dusty, parched, orange-colored scenes give way to joyful water splashing, showing the many, ever-changing conditions elephants face. Sibling support and strong family relationships prevail. An author’s note explains the real-life elephant family that inspired the story.
Nurtures encouragement, grit, and love. (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2023
ISBN: 9781419763731
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
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