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JOSHUA'S MASAI MASK

Name: JOSHUA'S MASAI MASK
Author: Dakari Hru
ISBN: 1-880000-02-4

by Dakari Hru & illustrated by Anna Rich ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 12, 1993

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Armed with only his kalimba, Joshua doesn't think he's going to make much of an impression in the talent show—especially after he sees the way classmates Kareem and Shamika boogie. But a generous gift from Uncle Zambezi—an African mask that grants wishes—changes his mind; after turning himself first into Kareem, then into a famous rap star, and finally into the mayor (``someone the kids would all respect''), Joshua reverts to being himself just in time to rescue the show from disaster and brings the audience to its feet. Rich's full-page acrylics place Joshua in a cleaned-up inner-city neighborhood; warm colors and occasional comic touches (a dog watches bug-eyed as Joshua switches instantly from ``Righteous Rapper'' to gray-suited official) reflect the happy tone. A sturdy picture-book debut for both author and illustrator. Brief explanatory afterword. (Picture book. 6-8)

Pub Date: April 12, 1993

ISBN: 1-880000-02-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Lee & Low Books

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1993

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
TICKLE TICKLE
by Dakari Hru & illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MAGIC MOONBERRY JUMP ROPES
by Dakari Hru & illustrated by E.B. Lewis

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WHAT THE ROAD SAID

by Cleo Wade ; illustrated by Lucie de Moyencourt ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 23, 2021

Inspiration, shrink wrapped.

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From an artist, poet, and Instagram celebrity, a pep talk for all who question where a new road might lead.

Opening by asking readers, “Have you ever wanted to go in a different direction,” the unnamed narrator describes having such a feeling and then witnessing the appearance of a new road “almost as if it were magic.” “Where do you lead?” the narrator asks. The Road’s twice-iterated response—“Be a leader and find out”—bookends a dialogue in which a traveler’s anxieties are answered by platitudes. “What if I fall?” worries the narrator in a stylized, faux hand-lettered type Wade’s Instagram followers will recognize. The Road’s dialogue and the narration are set in a chunky, sans-serif type with no quotation marks, so the one flows into the other confusingly. “Everyone falls at some point, said the Road. / But I will always be there when you land.” Narrator: “What if the world around us is filled with hate?” Road: “Lead it to love.” Narrator: “What if I feel stuck?” Road: “Keep going.” De Moyencourt illustrates this colloquy with luminous scenes of a small, brown-skinned child, face turned away from viewers so all they see is a mop of blond curls. The child steps into an urban mural, walks along a winding country road through broad rural landscapes and scary woods, climbs a rugged metaphorical mountain, then comes to stand at last, Little Prince–like, on a tiny blue and green planet. Wade’s closing claim that her message isn’t meant just for children is likely superfluous…in fact, forget the just.

Inspiration, shrink wrapped. (Picture book. 6-8, adult)

Pub Date: March 23, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-250-26949-2

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Review Posted Online: April 7, 2021

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
MAY YOU LOVE AND BE LOVED
by Cleo Wade ; illustrated by Cleo Wade

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HOW I BECAME A PIRATE

by Melinda Long & illustrated by David Shannon ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2003

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Thanks to parrot-toting Braidbeard and his gloriously disreputable crew, a lad discovers the ups and downs of a pirate’s life in this rousing mini-epic. His mom and dad busy on another part of the beach, young Jeremy happily joins a band of hook-handed, eye-patched, snaggle-toothed pirates aboard their ship, learning pirate table manners (none), enjoying a game of nautical soccer until a shark eats the ball, then happily retiring without having to brush teeth, or even don pajamas. But then Jeremy learns that pirates don’t get tucked in, or get bedtime stories, and as for good night kisses—Avast! Worse yet, no one offers comfort when a storm hits. So, giving over the pirate’s life, Jeremy shows the crew where to bury its treasure (his backyard), and bids them goodbye. Shannon outfits Braidbeard’s leering, pop-eyed lot in ragged but colorful pirate dress, and gives his young ruffian-in-training a belt and bandanna to match. This isn’t likely to turn pirate wannabees into landlubbers, but it will inspire a chorus of yo-ho-hos. (Picture book. 6-8)