An engaging reminder that it’s up to all of us to care for Earth.
Making the world better, one small step at a time.
In jaunty verse, six diverse families present 30 simple, practical, and economical ways to make the world a nicer, greener place to live. These fun ideas can be put into practice immediately and can be carried out by even the smallest family members. Young children can plant seeds together, then water the growing plants—activities that support wildlife, including butterflies, bugs, and bees. Siblings can bathe together to save water. Children can donate “pre-loved” clothes, books, and toys to others, while adults are encouraged to mend broken toys, fix broken taps to save water, shop with reusable bags, buy food from local vendors, and use public transport or ride bikes. Naturally, Preston-Gannon mentions recycling (e.g., cartons and bottle caps) straight off—which is a helpful lead-in to a discussion of how wonderful it is for eco-conscious families to visit the library, that marvelous place where people can return old books, borrow new ones, listen to storytime, and take part in arts-and-crafts activities using recycled objects. This bouncy U.K. import includes softly rounded digital illustrations, with characters who reflect a broad, realistic spectrum of skin tones and family structures. The word family in the book’s title also suggests that all of us, as our planet’s inhabitants and stewards, are responsible for its well-being.
An engaging reminder that it’s up to all of us to care for Earth. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781223188065
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Paw Prints Publishing/Baker & Taylor
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
A lovely and needed story of familia in which love conquers loss.
Family love in the face of loss is poignantly shared by de Anda and Harris.
Luis, Mama, Papi, their dog, Sancho, and beloved Abuelo are one tight familia. When Luis gets home from school he spends the afternoons with Abuelo building models, learning to paint, and sharing stories alongside tasty snacks. As time passes, things begin to change. When Abuelo can no longer remember how to fit the models together, he and Luis can still paint side by side. When he forgets to turn off the stove, quesadillas transform into tasty PB&Js instead. But when Abuelo goes missing one day, it is clear things are changing quickly and will never be the same. What afflicts Abuelo is never explicitly identified as the story unfolds, tenderly told in simple first person from Luis’ innocent and loving perspective as he slowly confronts new symptoms of his grandfather’s progressive dementia. His mother gives Luis sage advice that even though Abuelo’s memory is slipping he will always feel Luis’ love. Though this is certainly a sweet sentiment, many dementia patients experience apathy and changes in personality along with their memory loss, so the truth of Mama’s words is somewhat in doubt. This is nevertheless a touching and well-told story of the heartbreak of memory loss through the lens of family-oriented Latino culture.
A lovely and needed story of familia in which love conquers loss. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8075-1492-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2019
PERSPECTIVES
An affectionate, mouthwatering tale.
Based on a true story, this illustrated children’s book explains the origin of a signature sandwich.
After leaving Palermo, Sicily, Signor Salvatore Lupo comes to New Orleans in 1906. He plans to open a grocery shop stocked with delicacies such as pasta, salami, and more, catering to immigrants like him who miss the taste of home. Nearby, another Sicilian opens a bakery for Italian-style breads, which Salvatore stocks in his shop as part of the lunchtime spread. Though Salvatore’s shop is popular, it’s also small, and some customers have to eat standing up. The traditional style is to have a plate with lots of separate items like cheese, salami, olives, bread, and more, because “Sicilians only ate one thing at a time.” But crowded people and small plates lead to a lot of spills, so Salvatore has a brilliant nontraditional idea: make an olive salad and pile it with salami, ham, and Swiss cheese onto a crusty Italian loaf. Unfortunately, customers complain that the resulting sandwich is too hard to chew until Salvatore has another great notion—use soft muffuletta bread instead. The dish is a huge hit and is still a New Orleans specialty. In her second children’s book, Saunders tells a lively story full of energetic exclamations like “Mamma Mia!” and “kurplunk!” The tale celebrates immigrant ingenuity and the birth of new traditions that still honor one’s roots. Salvatore’s accent could be considered stereotypical, as in “How abouta everything goes on to the breada?” But it’s in the context of respecting his achievements. The work includes recipes for olive salad and muffuletta bread as well as background information about Salvatore and how Saunders came to write the book. The author’s watercolor and ink illustrations, which depict a light-skinned cast, are amusing, gently colored, and sprightly.
An affectionate, mouthwatering tale. (bibliography)Pub Date: Feb. 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-950169-32-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Spork
Review Posted Online: Nov. 25, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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