A sweet example of how to be a kind and supportive presence in the life of a struggling friend.
A hurting child regains his joy with the help of compassionate friends.
The story is told from the perspective of a dark-haired, tan-skinned boy who is the best friend of David, the titular pale-skinned boy with a mass of colorful blooms decorating his hair. Both David and his unnamed companion are part of a happy, bustling classroom that includes children with various hair textures and skin tones. No one bats an eye at David’s unusual coif, not even when it attracts bees or is hilariously inhabited by a family of birds. “But one day, something happened,” an allusion to an unspecified trauma. Once upbeat and talkative, David grows quiet, uninterested in play, and the flowers fall out of his hair. He starts wearing a hat to cover his “twiggy, spiky, and brittle” head. At first, David’s classmates are unnerved by the change and avoid him. But when his best buddy stays by his side and begins crafting painted paper flowers for David’s hair, the other children quickly join in. Slowly, David’s spark returns, and eventually his original blossoms do, too. His best friend keeps a box of the paper flowers “in case he ever needs them, because he's my best friend, and I am his.” Accompanied by beautiful, uncluttered digital images against lots of white space, Jarvis’ simple, gentle story gives adults room to explain David’s hardship to young readers in their own ways. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A sweet example of how to be a kind and supportive presence in the life of a struggling friend. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 26, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5362-2522-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2022
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
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)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children.
Interior decorator and TV personality Gaines invites readers to open their eyes and exercise their imaginations.
There’s a world to be explored out there—and only children can really take part. What does “looking for wonder” entail? Slowing down and looking up, around, and everywhere. At the outset, a group of eager, racially diverse young friends—including one who uses a wheelchair—are fully prepared for a grand adventure. They offer tips about how and where to look: Why, there’s a “grand parade” of marching ants! And, these kids add, perspective is key. A rainy day might signal gloom to some, but to those filled with wonder, showers bring “magic puddles for play”; a forest is “an enchanted world,” the ocean conceals “a spectacular city,” and the night sky boasts “extraordinary sights.” The takeaway: “Wonder is never in short supply.” It’s a robust, empowering message, as is the exhortation to “keep your mind open, and let curiosity guide the way.” Youngsters are also advised to share their discoveries. The upbeat narrative is delivered in clunky verse, but the colorful cartoonish illustrations brimming with activity and good cheer (including some adorable anthropomorphized animals in the backgrounds) make up for the textual lapses and should motivate readers to embark on their own “wonder explorations.”
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9781400247417
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tommy Nelson
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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