A bouncy celebration of winter.
A trio of children describe the delights of winter…all they need is snow.
A brown-skinned child with close-cropped black hair joins two tights-clad children in long coats, one with olive skin and black braids, the other with pink skin and reddish hair, on a fallen log in a park outside their apartment building. The glum chums are bemoaning the lack of snow: “Snow! Snow! We want snow! / Up to our ankles / Up to our shins / Up to our knees / Up to our chins!” The trio then go on to enumerate all the fun of wintertime play, both outdoors (sledding, snowmen, ice skating, snowballs) and in- (cocoa, a cozy fire, comforters on a bed, stories). The pictures on these pages show the three enjoying time together, with the added magic of some friendly wildlife and fanciful background details that include a castle and an igloo. Back on the log, faces even longer and unneeded winter gear strewn about, the three are startled by sudden flakes. They have snow up to their ankles, shins, knees, and chin (their dachshund’s, at least)! But now: “Snow in our hats / Snow in our hair / Snow in our socks and underwear!” And so the chant for spring begins, the rear copyright page hinting at a possible sequel. Though the meter isn’t consistent, the repeated chorus is catchy, and everyone reading this will recognize kids’ fickle attitudes toward the weather and seasons.
A bouncy celebration of winter. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-53411-075-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2021
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
A muddled message shoots for the moon but never quite gets all the way off the ground.
A little mouse experiences BIG changes thanks to a spectacular talent.
Dee’s a singer to her core. She croons absolutely everywhere, so when her teacher Miss Pink suggests that her students bring in something that symbolizes what they enjoy doing, Dee brings in a song. As she sings it, however, her joy causes her to physically grow huge! At first this makes her feel special, but as the day goes on she feels lonely and out of place. Shrinking back to her normal size, she worries that this means she can never sing again. But thanks to the encouragement of her mother and little sister, she realizes that being special is nothing to be ashamed of. However, though her classmates have skills of their own, only Dee changes, indicating that some talents are more transformative than others. After all, while everyone is enthralled by Dee, Ren the turtle’s talent for drawing a replica of a space station is something he “made everyone watch.” The true standout in this show comes from Sinquett’s dynamic art, capable of encompassing the emotional highs and lows of elementary school kids. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A muddled message shoots for the moon but never quite gets all the way off the ground. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-368-07806-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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