Guaranteed to appeal to fans of Frozen and other princess tales.
Celeste ponders the perfect gift for her mother all day until bedtime, when “the Wind bl[ows] in and carrie[s] her away.”
The Wind takes her first to the Stars, who are “eagerly awaiting her arrival.” The Stars are portrayed as wispy star clusters that form young women in full skirts floating in the sky. They bedeck her with sparkly shoes, necklace, and crown. Next she meets the Moon, a glowing, white-bearded old man who has “many stories to tell her.” Soon the sky brightens from cool purples into glowing oranges to reveal the Sun. Celeste is warmed by the cup of tea she sips with the queenly Sun. As the Wind returns to take her home, she ponders her encounters and what the various beings have shared with her. Just before the Wind delivers her to her home, Celeste spots the perfect gift for her mother—a field of flowers that sparkle and glow, sure “to warm her mother’s heart.” Debut author Keane has worked for Disney, and her illustrations show the influence. Her choice to use dry pastels softens the dreamy scenes, which pair well with the story of a young girl on a quest. It feels rather like a polished storyboard, and Celeste’s pink cheeks and cupid’s-bow lips have a commercial appeal that completes the ready-for-animation look.
Guaranteed to appeal to fans of Frozen and other princess tales. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 24, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3911-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2015
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
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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