Superficial—but still comforting and reassuring, with problems neatly tied up and solved.
There are so many challenging changes in Twig’s world.
Twig and her little sister, Turtle, are facing a first day of school for the third time, and it’s only October. Their parents sold their home in Boston, moved temporarily to live with Grandma in Denver, and now to a new, tiny house in Happy Trails, Colorado, so confining that almost everything had to be left behind, including Bo, a beloved Great Dane. When Grandma tells them she has found a new family for Bo, Twig must find a way to get him back. With the help of new friends and teachers, and a lot of research and planning, Twig comes up with an amazing solution that will bring Bo back into her life, help children with reading, and provide companionship for Mr. Kim, the school custodian (who appears only twice in the action). Readers will find Twig and Turtle delightful, coping with their unusual and interesting obstacles with determination and great resourcefulness. Unfortunately Jacobson’s cast of secondary characters is quite one-dimensional. Upsetting actions at first meetings with classmates are revealed to be completely unintentional and easily explained away. Mom and Dad are loving but distracted. The Social Skills Club leader leads her charges unerringly to self-awareness and happiness. Even Writing Workshop protocols are perfectly aligned with Twig’s success. Twig and Turtle’s family presents White; illustrations reveal a vibrantly diverse student body. Sequel Toy Store Trouble publishes simultaneously.
Superficial—but still comforting and reassuring, with problems neatly tied up and solved. (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-64595-021-9
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Pixel+Ink
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape.
The fourth installment in Delacre’s early-reader series centers on the rich musical traditions of Puerto Rico, once again featuring sibling tree frogs Rafi and Rosi Coquí.
Readers learn along with Rafi and Rosi as they explore bomba, plena, and salsa in three chapters. A glossary at the beginning sets readers up well to understand the Spanish vocabulary, including accurate phoneticization for non-Spanish speakers. The stories focus on Rafi and Rosi’s relationship within a musical context. For example, in one chapter Rafi finds out that he attracts a larger audience playing his homemade güiro with Rosi’s help even though he initially excluded her: “Big brothers only.” Even when he makes mistakes, as the older brother, Rafi consoles Rosi when she is embarrassed or angry at him. In each instance, their shared joy for music and dance ultimately shines through any upsets—a valuable reflection of unity. Informational backmatter and author’s sources are extensive. Undoubtedly these will help teachers, librarians, and parents to develop Puerto Rican cultural programs, curriculum, or home activities to extend young readers’ learning. The inclusion of instructions to make one’s own homemade güiro is a thoughtful addition. The Spanish translation, also by Delacre and published simultaneously, will require a more advanced reader than the English one to recognize and comprehend contractions (“pa’bajo-pa-pa’rriba”) and relatively sophisticated vocabulary.
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape. (Early reader. 7-9)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-89239-429-6
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Children's Book Press
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
The story feels a bit contrived, but Ada will be a welcome addition to the small circle of science-loving girls in the...
Using science and technology, third-grader Ada Lace kicks off her new series by solving a mystery even with her leg in a cast.
Temporarily housebound after a badly executed bungee jump, Ada uses binoculars to document the ecosystem of her new neighborhood in San Francisco. She records her observations in a field journal, a project that intrigues new friend Nina, who lives nearby. When they see that Ms. Reed’s dog, Marguerite, is missing, they leap to the conclusion that it has been stolen. Nina does the legwork and Ada provides the technology for their search for the dognapper. Story-crafting takes a back seat to scene-setting in this series kickoff that introduces the major players. As part of the series formula, science topics and gadgetry are integrated into the stories and further explained in a “Behind the Science” afterword. This installment incorporates drones, a wireless camera, gecko gloves, and the Turing test as well as the concept of an ecosystem. There are no ethnic indicators in the text, but the illustrations reveal that Ada, her family, and bratty neighbor Milton are white; Nina appears to be Southeast Asian; and Mr. Peebles, an inventor who lives nearby, is black.
The story feels a bit contrived, but Ada will be a welcome addition to the small circle of science-loving girls in the chapter-book world. (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4814-8599-9
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
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