A solidly presented, surefooted message rooted in the Christian faith.
The author looks at feet as the vehicle for spreading God’s love.
Sure, feet can be stinky or dirty or funny, but God loves all our feet because they help us spread his grace to those around us. After making that point, Sassi considers the feet of many prominent Biblical characters and how they helped their owners to build (Noah), stand strong (Daniel), confront bullies (David), and share joy (Mary, when she visited Elizabeth to announce “she was having God’s own boy”). Jesus’ feet took him all over while he taught people, healed the sick, helped the lost and those astray, and ultimately “paid sin’s debt” on Calvary. Though several of those topics are on the more serious side, the bouncy rhyming couplets, two to a spread, keep things from getting too heavy for the youngest listeners (though their adults may keenly feel the dichotomy). Di Donna’s seemingly digital illustrations are bright and cheerful, with smiles even on the animals’ faces. The biblical characters are olive-toned, while present-day folks are diverse in skin color and ability. One elderly character uses a cane, a child with a cast on a foot relies on a crutch, and another youngster uses a wheelchair. This tale could be a good choice to share with children just starting to do outreach or volunteering.
A solidly presented, surefooted message rooted in the Christian faith. (Religious picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781546007630
Page Count: 32
Publisher: WorthyKids/Ideals
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
The photographs carry this board book even though the presentation and text disappoint.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the largest Hindu festivals, and it’s celebrated all around the world; this nonfiction board book presents its sights, sounds, and celebrations.
Each page of brief, often rhyming text is paired with a vivid photograph depicting wide-eyed toddlers and young children of the Indian diaspora, with dark hair and skin of varying shades of brown. These photographs are the best feature of this book. The text, as narrated by an adult to a young child, talks about the various aspects of the Diwali celebration, including new clothes, prayers, henna, sweets, firecrackers. It occasionally reads awkwardly, and readers may have to hunt for rhymes: “Buy diyas, candles / and paper lanterns.// Henna for hands / and rangoli sand.” With its focus on very young children, the book shows how Diwali is celebrated rather than why. However, notably absent is the holiday’s important community aspect. And although there are multiple mentions of diyas, these beautiful clay lamps that are a highlight of this festival are neither depicted nor explained; neither are such other specialized vocabulary as “jaan” or “rangoli.” A short note at the back of the book gives a smidge more information for older children. There are not many board books for very young kids on this topic, and this one is not everything it could have been.
The photographs carry this board book even though the presentation and text disappoint. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4598-1908-5
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: Nov. 11, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019
Young children will enjoy this very basic introduction to a Jewish holiday celebration.
It’s a festive Passover Seder for two families.
“With fresh springtime flowers and once-a-year dishes, / Two candles stand straight / See our grand seder plate / At our table for this seder night.” A white father, black mother, and their two children join an all-white multigenerational family for the spring Jewish festival of Passover. The narrator, the young son of the hosting family, describes the cushions on the chairs, the wine/grape-juice glasses, the special foods, the water for washing hands and the water for dipping greens, the afikomen for hiding, and Elijah’s and Miriam’s cups for two very special guests. All this is related with the cheerful refrain: “At our table for this seder night.” Those who observe and those who are unfamiliar with the many steps of the Seder will enjoy the details tailored to a young audience—the family pets join in as the celebrants sing “Dayenu,” among other side business. Readers hoping for more background information on Elijah’s and Miriam’s cups will be disappointed, however. The digital illustrations are lively and spirited, featuring many smiling faces and kippot on the men and boys.
Young children will enjoy this very basic introduction to a Jewish holiday celebration. (author’s note, glossary) (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8075-0446-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2019
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