A diverse, offbeat, and amusing tale.
Jatkar’s picture book tells a modern tale of ice cream making, rooted in Indian folklore.
The main story is prefaced by the Hindu tale of Bakaasur, a human-devouring demon who terrorizes villagers and is killed by Bheem, a visiting king. Then, in a more modern scene, seven young cousins play at their Amma and Baba’s house on a hot day. Suddenly, Baba announces, “Let’s make ice cream!” The children hide because they know that Baba will insist on using his own hand-powered ice cream maker, which they’ve dubbed Bakaasur. The family members, who have varying skin tones, prepare by sourcing milk, rock salt, and ice. Baba makes a schedule, Amma combines an assortment of ingredients, including almonds and cinnamon, and the laborious endeavor begins. Then the old machine conks out. When a rigged-up rickshaw can’t get the machine to churn, Amma and the children formulate a new plan. Many kids love ice cream, so the subtitle of this book may be enough to woo reluctant young readers. It may particularly interest those who may be unfamiliar with the tradition of churning one’s own ice cream as a family event spanning the majority of a day. The stylized, detailed full-color depictions of rickshaws, spices, the marketplace, and customary clothing bring vibrancy and authenticity to the pages.
A diverse, offbeat, and amusing tale.Pub Date: April 23, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-9977181-2-6
Page Count: 46
Publisher: Monkey Mantra
Review Posted Online: May 25, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
An affirming, though lackluster, look at a loving queer family.
For his debut picture book, teacher and activist Chasten Buttigieg draws inspiration from life with husband Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. transportation secretary.
The big day has finally arrived! Rosie and Jojo have been counting down the days until Papa comes home from his work trip. With a little help from Daddy, they make “welcome home” signs to greet Papa at the airport, pick flowers from the garden, and bake a “seven-layer chocolate cake with purple and yellow frosting.” Much to Daddy’s bemusement, the kids gather all of Papa’s favorite things, including his robe and slippers and their adorable pooch, Butter, as they walk out the door to pick up Papa from his travels. The author offers an affectionate portrait of the everyday domestic life of a same-sex family unit. While many kids and adults will be pleased to see their experiences reflected on the page, both the choppy writing and the flat digital artwork are fairly bland. Characters display similarly excited facial expressions throughout, while the portrayal of the children borders on overly cutesy at times, with intentionally misspelled signs throughout the house (“Papa’s Very Spechull Garden. Please do not tutch”). Like the author’s actual children, Rosie and Jojo are brown-skinned, while Daddy and Papa present white.
An affirming, though lackluster, look at a loving queer family. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN: 9780593693988
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
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