Though it is a bit emotionally aspirational, this issue-based story is a timely discussion prompt.
A young girl misses her mother, a physician who must quarantine during the Covid-19 pandemic so she can keep her family safe while caring for sick people.
Although Mom is just staying in the garage, her daughter still feels her absence. Whether she’s cooking, attending virtual school, or delivering groceries to Grandma and Grandpa (with physically distanced greetings), she misses her mother. Dad is fun, and video chats with Mom help, but it’s not the same. When Mom finally comes home, the young narrator rejoices even though she knows her mother will have to go back to work soon. Her mom is a superhero, and while she’s gone, the girl knows she can be a superhero too by helping take care of her dad and her community. This issue-focused story supports social-emotional learning and depicts many of the changes children are currently experiencing due to Covid-19. Throughout, the first-person, present-tense text models discussions between caregiver and child about pandemic-related topics. The characters discuss the importance of washing hands, keeping physically distanced, and wearing masks. Characters are shown wearing face masks when outside their home. As much as the girl misses her mother, she expresses only sadness and fear—never anger or resentment. This feels like an omission in a book that seeks to connect with children. Disappointingly, the book lacks any backmatter with additional supports for caregivers. The childlike cartoon illustrations adequately portray day-to-day life, although the technical aspects of the artwork are clunky and flat. The girl and Dad are depicted with black hair and brown skin while Mom has blonde hair and pale skin.
Though it is a bit emotionally aspirational, this issue-based story is a timely discussion prompt. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 27, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77260-175-6
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Second Story Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2021
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
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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