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FORTS

A childhood essential transformed into poetic beauty.

An ode to forts of all kinds, from those found in nature to those we make ourselves.

A sweeping fall landscape greets readers who open this book. “The world is full of forts,” Venit declares, inviting youngsters to follow along as a brown-skinned child explores the outdoors. The hollowed-out root tangle of a fallen tree and the cave behind a waterfall both make welcome hideouts. Closer to home, a backyard treehouse and a tent are inviting getaways. And as the protagonist moves indoors, Venit introduces us to less obvious forts: the peaceful space behind the curtains, “the kingdom under the kitchen table,” a pile of boxes, and stacks of cushions. For all the shelter they provide, forts are also much-needed sources of solitude, respites from a loud, people-filled world. Venit’s lyrical text reads aloud well and includes beautiful turns of phrase and rich vocabulary that conjure up feelings of tranquility, while Pak’s delicately luminous illustrations convey a powerful sense of place, using light and shadow to carve out cozy spots both indoors and out. One especially stunning image shows the child in a tent made of a thin blanket decorated with hanging origami cranes; the silhouette of an adult on the other side casts a pale shadow against the sheet. The young protagonist looks entirely at home, tucked up snug in the various forts; readers will readily relate.

A childhood essential transformed into poetic beauty. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: July 29, 2025

ISBN: 9780593466155

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: April 19, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025

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WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

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

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

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THE MAGICAL YET

A solid if message-driven conversation starter about the hard parts of learning.

Children realize their dreams one step at a time in this story about growth mindset.

A child crashes and damages a new bicycle on a dark, rainy day. Attempting a wheelie, the novice cyclist falls onto the sidewalk, grimacing, and, having internalized this setback as failure, vows to never ride again but to “walk…forever.” Then the unnamed protagonist happens upon a glowing orb in the forest, a “thought rearranger-er”—a luminous pink fairy called the Magical Yet. This Yet reminds the child of past accomplishments and encourages perseverance. The second-person rhyming couplets remind readers that mistakes are part of learning and that with patience and effort, children can achieve. Readers see the protagonist learn to ride the bike before a flash-forward shows the child as a capable college graduate confidently designing a sleek new bike. This book shines with diversity: racial, ethnic, ability, and gender. The gender-indeterminate protagonist has light brown skin and exuberant curly locks; Amid the bustling secondary cast, one child uses a prosthesis, and another wears hijab. At no point in the text is the Yet defined as a metaphor for a growth mindset; adults reading with younger children will likely need to clarify this abstract lesson. The artwork is powerful and detailed—pay special attention to the endpapers that progress to show the Yet at work.

A solid if message-driven conversation starter about the hard parts of learning. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: April 14, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-368-02562-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion/LBYR

Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2020

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