A heartwarming whirl.
Amy Wu twirls, taps, and troubleshoots in this latest story.
Whether it’s wriggling on the carpet during story time or hopping on her bed at night, Amy, a young Chinese girl, is always on the go. When she sees Chinese ribbon dancing on TV, she is instantly drawn to the fluttering and twisting swaths. She must have a ribbon dance party with her friends. They’ll each bring an instrument, and Amy will supply “the most important thing—dancing ribbons.” Looking around the house, Amy thinks outside the box to find a suitable ribbon replacement. Will a hair ribbon be close enough? Maybe a scarf or a tablecloth? Nothing seems quite right, and Amy’s bouncy feet are at a glum standstill—until her family and diverse friends encourage Amy to see past these details and have fun with her makeshift ribbons. Ultimately, she adjusts her expectations and learns to appreciate what’s most important—dancing and enjoying a magic moment with friends and family. This fourth entry is just as bouncy and buoyant as previous series installments. Illustrations expressively capture Amy’s enthusiasm and joy as well as her frustration and disappointment. Full of movement, Chua’s vignettes evoke the energy and celebration of dance and music in Zhang’s rhythmic prose. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A heartwarming whirl. (instructions for making dance ribbons) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 30, 2023
ISBN: 9781665916721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators.
Existing artwork from an artistic giant inspires a fairy-tale reimagination by a master of the horror genre.
In King’s interpretation of a classic Brothers Grimm story, which accompanies set and costume designs that the late Sendak created for a 1997 production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera, siblings Hansel and Gretel survive abandonment in the woods and an evil witch’s plot to gobble them up before finding their “happily ever after” alongside their father. Prose with the reassuring cadence of an old-timey tale, paired with Sendak’s instantly recognizable artwork, will lull readers before capitalizing on these creators’ knack for injecting darkness into seemingly safe spaces. Gaping faces loom in crevices of rocks and trees, and a gloomy palette of muted greens and ocher amplify the story’s foreboding tone, while King never sugarcoats the peach-skinned children’s peril. Branches with “clutching fingers” hide “the awful enchanted house” of a “child-stealing witch,” all portrayed in an eclectic mix of spot and full-bleed images. Featuring insults that might strike some as harsh (“idiot,” “fool”), the lengthy, dense text may try young readers’ patience, and the often overwhelmingly ominous mood feels more pitched to adults—particularly those familiar with King and Sendak—but an introduction acknowledges grandparents as a likely audience, and nostalgia may prompt leniency over an occasional disconnect between words and art.
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780062644695
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2025
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
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