This expression of a core Jewish value should resonate with readers of all ethnic groups and faiths.
A series of kindhearted acts and good deeds by a community’s residents illustrates how the world can be a better place.
The opening narrative offers a more nuanced and expansive translation of the basic Hebrew idiom than is noted in the subtitle. “It’s everything. It’s all. It’s whole. / Entire. The Most. In Hebrew, it’s kol.… / And what’s kavod? It’s gee! It’s wow. / It’s honor, respect. It’s whoa, holy cow!” The two Hebrew words put together literally translate to “all respect,” making it a powerful message to acknowledge when something good and important is achieved. Various scenarios follow this introduction, depicting a harmonious community of children performing simple altruistic acts that summon a “Kol Hakavod!” Such acts as giving up a seat on the subway for an elderly person, feeding the dog, recycling, giving money to charity, visiting an ailing friend, inviting a new classmate to sit with you, and so on may seem minor but will produce major goodwill. The text rhymes—a little unevenly—and is illustrated with cartoon figures colored digitally (sometimes with bits of fabric swatches that add interest). The cast is made up of an assortment of races and ages, and one child uses a wheelchair. The message is clear: How one conducts oneself throughout life is important—at school, in the community, and beyond.
This expression of a core Jewish value should resonate with readers of all ethnic groups and faiths. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5415-2211-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: May 21, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2019
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...
Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.
The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 21, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Nothing new here but a nonetheless congenial matriculant in publishing’s autumnal rite of back-to-school offerings.
The Crayons head back to class in this latest series entry.
Daywalt’s expository text lays out the basics as various Crayons wave goodbye to the beach, choose a first-day outfit, greet old friends, and make new ones. As in previous outings, the perennially droll illustrations and hand-lettered Crayon-speak drive the humor. The ever wrapperless Peach, opining, “What am I going to wear?” surveys three options: top hat and tails, a chef’s toque and apron, and a Santa suit. New friends Chunky Toddler Crayon (who’s missing a bite-sized bit of their blue point) and Husky Toddler Crayon speculate excitedly on their common last name: “I wonder if we’re related!” White Crayon, all but disappearing against the page’s copious white space, sits cross-legged reading a copy of H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man. And Yellow and Orange, notable for their previous existential argument about the color of the sun, find agreement in science class: Jupiter, clearly, is yellow AND orange. Everybody’s excited about art class—“Even if they make a mess. Actually…ESPECIALLY if they make a mess!” Here, a spread of crayoned doodles of butterflies, hearts, and stars is followed by one with fulsome scribbles. Fans of previous outings will spot cameos from Glow in the Dark and yellow-caped Esteban (the Crayon formerly known as Pea Green). (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nothing new here but a nonetheless congenial matriculant in publishing’s autumnal rite of back-to-school offerings. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: May 16, 2023
ISBN: 9780593621110
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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