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IF YOU WERE HERE

Name: IF YOU WERE HERE
Author: Kathy Stinson
ISBN: 9781771649926

by Kathy Stinson ; illustrated by Maya McKibbin ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 13, 2025

A glowing window into grieving that makes room for sorrow and joy to coexist.

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A child mourns while taking in the marvels of the forest and ocean.

“I wish you were here,” begins this tender story. “Together we’d smell the damp mushrooms and moss deep inside these woods.” Narrated by a child with light brown skin and chestnut hair, the tale winds through a shining meadow, a temperate rainforest, and a pebbly shoreline. Stinson focuses on the young protagonist’s sensory experiences of the land and water all around, encouraging mindfulness and connection to the present moment: tasting “the ocean salt in the breeze,” seeing “the light poking through the clouds,” hearing “pebbles saying clickety-clack,” and feeling “the tickle of the sea-foam swish up between our toes.” Teeming with the flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest, where illustrator McKibbin (Ojibwe) lives, the vivid, full-bleed digital images bring life to a text filled with heartache and reverence for nature. Stinson’s narrator doesn’t go into detail about the missing loved one, allowing readers to see their own experiences reflected in the story; this could be a tale about someone who’s moved away, died, or is otherwise no longer a part of everyday life. Radiant images and a spacious narrative provide adults with an uplifting space to discuss heavy emotions with young ones.

A glowing window into grieving that makes room for sorrow and joy to coexist. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: May 13, 2025

ISBN: 9781771649926

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Greystone Kids

Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

- BOOK REVIEW
THE ROCK AND THE BUTTERFLY
by Kathy Stinson ; illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan

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A TULIP IN WINTER
by Kathy Stinson ; illustrated by Lauren Soloy

- BOOK REVIEW
THE GIRL WHO LOVED GIRAFFES
by Kathy Stinson ; illustrated by François Thisdale

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WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

by Gregory R. Lange ; illustrated by Sydney Hanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.

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All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.

Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)

Pub Date: May 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK AND RACER RED

From the Little Blue Truck series

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2025

A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.

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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)