A pleasant and persuasive primer that also asks readers to get up and dance.
A pipsqueak dancer shows off some serious moves.
“I dance,” says the brown-skinned child, clad in deep red and white with a straw-colored hat in hand. Next, a delightful hen busts a step alongside the tiny dancer, hat now on head. From page to page, a series of Philippine folk dances form the basis for this easy-to-read volume, beckoning new readers to hop into the rhythm. A courteous dance with a friend exemplifies the affectionate undertones of the cariñosa, while a flap of the wings in the company of a duck showcases the joy of the itik-itik. A graceful stance beside a harvest of colorful fish elucidates the rich mimicry behind the tahing baila. Set against natural landscapes, Almeda’s bright, cheery artwork merges flashes of movement with hints of the fantastical, making each dance leap off the page. Other brown-skinned children and adults accompany the miniature dancer, each character with a slight smile and all-black eyes, a community brimming with celebration. Rañola’s firmly crafted text leverages sound patterns and other phonics-based tricks to excellent effect, often to droll results. “Hear me dance! Clack! Clack!” This frolic concludes with a rather sweet invitation to keep the swirling and twirling going.
A pleasant and persuasive primer that also asks readers to get up and dance. (Early reader. 4-6)Pub Date: Oct. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9780823458387
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
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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