A hare-raising guide to getting to yes.
Advice on cultivating a positive outlook, the rabbit way.
Sofi lives in a retro-looking burrow with her patient parents and “baby brotherbunny,” Luka. Daily life has its challenges, and Sofi admits that sometimes she struggles when she’s asked to do things she isn’t in the mood for. But she wants to have a good attitude, and she shows us how she went from being the “No Bunny” to the “Yes Bunny” in 10 brief chapters. The short version: Use your imagination and find the fun in even seemingly boring situations. The stories involve familiar challenges: donning winter clothes, trying new foods, making the bed, taking a bath, and apologizing. Each chapter ends with a handy chart summarizing the Yes Bunny’s steps to positivity. Some of the suggestions won’t work for everyone. It’s lucky that Luka likes lettuce, which inspires an initially reluctant Sofi to finally try it. And Sofi’s too big for her favorite hat, but it now fits her brother, which makes learning to share much easier. But generally, the guidance will apply to most readers. Simple language makes the points clear. Detailed, cozy illustrations are infused with a carroty glow and lettuce-green touches. The book evokes Richard Scarry’s art, while the premise is reminiscent of Scarry’s Pig Will and Pig Won’t characters. The flat dark-outlined shapes recall Dick Bruna’s beloved Miffy, but with huge eyes and paler colors.
A hare-raising guide to getting to yes. (Early graphic fiction. 3-6)Pub Date: March 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781419776915
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Magic Cat
Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2025
An accessible entrance into the world of social-emotional skills.
What do you do when the world turns upside down?
Freckled redhead Tilda is a happy only child with a rollicking personality. With lots of books and toys and a multiracial group of friends, life is perfect as far as she’s concerned…until her world undergoes a troubling change (a subtle hint in the illustrations suggests that Tilda’s parents have divorced). Suddenly, nothing feels right, everything seems hard, and she doesn’t want to play with her friends. To reflect this emotional disorientation, the artwork shows Tilda in spatially distorted settings, complete with upside-down objects. It’s not until she sees an upturned ladybug struggle persistently before getting back on its feet (despite Tilda’s desire to help, the ladybug needs to help itself) that Tilda gains the courage to start taking baby steps in order to cope with her new reality. There are still challenges, and she needs to persevere, but eventually, she regains her zest for life and reconnects with her friends. Despite this, the ending avoids an easy happily-ever-after, which feels just right for the subject matter. Though a trifle didactic, the story sends an important message about the roles of self-efficacy and persistence when it comes to overcoming challenges and building resilience. Percival’s digital illustrations use transitions from grayscale to color to create symbolic meaning and have psychological depth, deftly capturing a child’s experience of trauma.
An accessible entrance into the world of social-emotional skills. (author's note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0822-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2022
A soothing, logical, and playful introduction to mindfulness for young listeners.
What can you do when things go wrong?
Two children contemplate different ways to calm themselves down in this straightforward introduction to breathing, relaxation, and mindfulness. The younger, White-presenting child follows suit when the older, brown-skinned child proposes imaginative calming techniques. They picture themselves as various animals (goldfish, elephants, dragons) and objects (pinwheels, dandelions, wind chimes, flowers), inhaling and exhaling, that make deep breathing and calming down concrete and easy to comprehend. Simplified, whimsical illustrations add a touch of humor and a wink to the 1970s while preventing the story from becoming cloying, as soft, gentle instructions help the characters (and listeners) to understand some of the mechanics behind how to intentionally breathe and decompress. While not necessarily something that children will pick up unless they are learning about practicing mindfulness, this informative title has charm and warmth and will give youngsters some ideas as to how to self-regulate and manage their feelings as they learn to be aware of their breathing. Endpapers feature a multiracial array of children’s faces expressing different emotions.
A soothing, logical, and playful introduction to mindfulness for young listeners. (author's note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 13, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77164-637-6
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Greystone Kids
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
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