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PEACHES

Name: PEACHES
Author: Gabriele Davis
ISBN: 9781419757372

by Gabriele Davis ; illustrated by Kim Holt ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2024

A celebration of family, food, and finding ways to heal.

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An afternoon spent baking helps a child come to terms with loss.

The young narrator explains that “Mama left us when I was a sweet babe, a rock-me-in-her-arms-and-kiss-my-cheek babe.” But the child still happily picks peaches alongside Grandma every Sunday. As the family laughs and smiles while biting into juicy peaches that taste like summer and eating Grandma's peach cobbler, the child notices old photos of Mama and Daddy making cobbler together; the little one realizes that Daddy hasn’t been the same since they lost Mama. The child decides that learning to make the cobbler might help and turns to Grandma: "Teach me? Like you did Mama?" A series of vignettes shows them “tossing, stirring, mixing, kneading.” Next week, the protagonist decides to prepare the dish without Grandma’s help, as a surprise for Daddy. But things go awry, and the child is eventually overcome by tears. Savvy readers will recognize that the cobbler is more than just a sweet treat, and the image of the child mourning gives way to delight and hard-earned triumph as the narrator finishes baking the dessert, which the whole family then shares. Bright, realistic illustrations, made with digital acrylic and pencil, have an almost three-dimensional look in places, particularly the sumptuous peaches. Davis and Holt balance this loving Black family’s feelings of joy and sorrow. A recipe for peach cobbler concludes the work.

A celebration of family, food, and finding ways to heal. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: May 7, 2024

ISBN: 9781419757372

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Abrams

Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
OUR JOYFUL NOISE
by Gabriele Davis ; illustrated by Craig Stanley

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WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

by Gregory R. Lange ; illustrated by Sydney Hanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.

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All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.

Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)

Pub Date: May 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK AND RACER RED

From the Little Blue Truck series

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2025

A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.

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In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.

Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”

A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)