A visually appealing but overall lackluster attempt to explore the complexity of bad feelings.
A lost toy triggers a swath of emotions.
Lavender endpapers share a preview of anthropomorphized feelings, some of whom readers will meet in the book. As the book opens, a child plays with their favorite toy, Funn, an action figure with dark brown skin, while Happiness, a large, open-mouthed yellow creature, tags along. When Funn is lost one morning, however, Worry takes over. Then the narrator becomes Scared, and Anger follows. When the child realizes that Funn is broken, they initially blame little sister Katie—but soon feel Guilt when they discover that Dad is responsible. Enter Embarrassment and Sadness, but Katie shows the protagonist Kindness, and soon all is well. The emotions are depicted as solidly colored blobs set against negative space that makes them pop. The design is a thoughtful mix of cartoon speech bubbles, plain text, and onomatopoeia in large font. However, despite the enjoyably hyperbolic responses of the emotions, it’s a fairly simplistic take on a complicated topic. Negative emotions dominate until the conclusion, at which point the conflict wraps up far too neatly. Fans of the author’s other books—The Yawns Are Coming! (2020), The Giggles Are Coming! (2021)—may enjoy this one, but it’ll likely leave most readers cold. Human characters have light brown skin. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A visually appealing but overall lackluster attempt to explore the complexity of bad feelings. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 9, 2023
ISBN: 9780593616611
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Rocky Pond Books/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Jan. 17, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
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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