A call to action that’s sure to make an artist out of anyone.
Art making is distilled into simple steps—and a whole lotta fun.
Black “dots, lines, smudges, and scribbles” appear on a white background. An unseen narrator instructs readers to place their hands on the page to feel it “vibrate.” On the next page, the patterns have formed the shape of a hand—the “drawing hand”—as if the dots and lines are reacting to the actual hand that’s touched them. In typical Tullet fashion, subsequent pages allow readers to interact with the book and to make art by following simple instructions. First, kids are invited to use their fingers to drag and drop red, blue, and yellow dots onto little marked x’s to make “a whole dance of dots!” and, later, a flower. Readers are asked to draw lines and then scribbles. Each prompt ends with bold, black lines transforming the project into a flower—even after some surprising twists. Encouraging phrases such as “Brilliant!” and “Bravo, bravo!” cheer readers on throughout. The inclusion of smudges and other imperfections beautifully provides nonverbal support for the affirmations. Tullet has molded a familiar formula into something both fun and meaningful. By starting simple and moving on to more abstract techniques, the book represents a scaffolded lesson at its best. The open-ended conclusion brilliantly takes art out of flower territory and opens a Pandora’s box of creativity.
A call to action that’s sure to make an artist out of anyone. (Interactive picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2024
ISBN: 9781797232584
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2024
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
Count on construction die-hards falling in love, but discerning readers would be wise to look elsewhere for their...
Less ambitious than Chris Gall’s widely known Dinotrux (2009) and sequels, this British import systematically relegates each dinosaur/construction-equipment hybrid to its most logical job.
The title figures are introduced as bigger than both diggers and dinosaurs, and rhyming text and two construction-helmeted kids show just what these creatures are capable of. Each diggersaur has a specific job to do and a distinct sound effect. The dozersaurus moves rocks with a “SCRAAAAPE!!!” while the rollersaurus flattens lumps with a cheery “TOOT TOOT!!” Each diggersaur is numbered, with 12 in all, allowing this to be a counting book on the sly. As the diggersaurs (not all of which dig) perform jobs that regular construction equipment can do, albeit on a larger scale, there is no particular reason why any of them should have dinosaurlike looks other than just ’cause. Peppy computer art tries valiantly to attract attention away from the singularly unoriginal text. “Diggersaurs dig with bites so BIG, / each SCOOP creates a crater. // They’re TOUGH and STRONG / with necks so long— / they’re super EXCAVATORS!” Far more interesting are the two human characters, a white girl and a black boy, that flit about the pictures offering commentary and action. Much of the fun of the book can be found in trying to spot them on every two-page spread.
Count on construction die-hards falling in love, but discerning readers would be wise to look elsewhere for their dino/construction kicks. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 2, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-9848-4779-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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