A warm and tender tribute to the traditions that help us hold our loved ones close.
A child lovingly honors the memory of a late parent.
Each week, Papa and the young protagonist take a walk to a special spot where Mama, “the best fisherman around,” would catch “fish after fish.” Now that it’s just the two of them, they quietly immerse themselves in memories of Mama, breathing in the smell of the lake and listening to the “sound of the water slappin’ back and forth, back and forth.” They bait their hooks, each motion a tribute to Mama, and as they wait for fish, Papa repeats an oft-told story about how Mama once landed a huge fish. They return home with a bucket of fish, still looking, still listening, carrying sounds into sleep, where the protagonist dreams sweetly of Mama and the fish. Scenes of Papa, Mama, and the child depict a family filled with love—literally connected to one another through touch. In the present, as Papa and the child experience the world without Mama, her memory remains. The world is bathed in warm pink light, reminiscent of the jacket Mama wore, and the flowers, trees, and water have a comforting, otherworldly feel. The atmosphere seems to swirl and move, alive with her memory. Both heart-filling and heartbreaking, this book is a reminder that tradition and love keep memory alive. Mama is light-skinned and blond; Papa and the child are dark-haired and slightly darker in skin tone.
A warm and tender tribute to the traditions that help us hold our loved ones close. (Picture book. 4-8.)Pub Date: April 30, 2024
ISBN: 9781542039857
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Two Lions
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
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)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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