bookshelf

TIME FOR BED, OLD HOUSE

Name: TIME FOR BED, OLD HOUSE
Author: Janet Costa Bates
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0998-3

by Janet Costa Bates ; illustrated by AG Ford ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 7, 2021

A delightful multigenerational story, perfect for bedtime or anytime a child is afraid.

bookshelf

Isaac loves spending time at Grandpop’s house, but is he brave enough for a sleepover?

Isaac is at Grandpop’s for his first sleepover. However, when night falls, Isaac seems hesitant to go to bed. When he tells Grandpop that he isn’t ready for sleep, Grandpop introduces him to a new ritual of saying goodnight to the house, explaining, “First, you move kind of quiet and slow.” This sentence sets the transition for both readers and Isaac as movements and sounds are described as “soft” and “cozy”—perfect words for snuggling in. As Isaac, Grandpop, and Snuffles the Airedale move through the house turning off lights and lowering shades, Isaac notices noises that make him afraid, but Grandpop is there to comfort him and explain the house’s “sleepy sounds.” Before turning in, he reads the pictures of a book to Grandpop, who drifts off in the armchair, bravely says goodnight to the rest of the house, and reads his book to his teddy bear. In no time, Isaac, Grandpop, and Snuffles are fast asleep. Ford’s illustrations of this loving Black duo within the comfy, older house are warm and tender. The rich honey-brown, gold, and blue hues are natural choices for a bedtime book. Isaac’s first-sleepover story is honest and one that young children will appreciate; adult readers will find it nostalgic.

A delightful multigenerational story, perfect for bedtime or anytime a child is afraid. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-5362-0998-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: July 26, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
RICA BAPTISTA
by Janet Costa Bates ; illustrated by Gladys Jose

- BOOK REVIEW
SEASIDE DREAM
by Janet Costa Bates & illustrated by Lambert Davis

bookshelf

THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

bookshelf

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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE'S A BEACH IN MY BEDROOM
by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson

bookshelf

YOUR BABY'S FIRST WORD WILL BE DADA

by Jimmy Fallon ; illustrated by Miguel Ordóñez ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2015

Plotless and pointless, the book clearly exists only because its celebrity author wrote it.

bookshelf

A succession of animal dads do their best to teach their young to say “Dada” in this picture-book vehicle for Fallon.

A grumpy bull says, “DADA!”; his calf moos back. A sad-looking ram insists, “DADA!”; his lamb baas back. A duck, a bee, a dog, a rabbit, a cat, a mouse, a donkey, a pig, a frog, a rooster, and a horse all fail similarly, spread by spread. A final two-spread sequence finds all of the animals arrayed across the pages, dads on the verso and children on the recto. All the text prior to this point has been either iterations of “Dada” or animal sounds in dialogue bubbles; here, narrative text states, “Now everybody get in line, let’s say it together one more time….” Upon the turn of the page, the animal dads gaze round-eyed as their young across the gutter all cry, “DADA!” (except the duckling, who says, “quack”). Ordóñez's illustrations have a bland, digital look, compositions hardly varying with the characters, although the pastel-colored backgrounds change. The punch line fails from a design standpoint, as the sudden, single-bubble chorus of “DADA” appears to be emanating from background features rather than the baby animals’ mouths (only some of which, on close inspection, appear to be open). It also fails to be funny.

Plotless and pointless, the book clearly exists only because its celebrity author wrote it. (Picture book. 3-5)