Gentle guidance for life’s inevitable ups and downs.
Kids express their thanks for everyday wonders.
“Each day is a gift.” Some are eagerly desired, like a bicycle or a trip to an amusement park, while others are a bit drearier, such as new pajamas at Christmas. Some are unexpected: A baby bird that falls from its nest is couched as “an opportunity” for a caregiver and child to show the small creature kindness. The unseen narrator adds that “some gifts feel very unwanted…the kind of gift you’d rather return or tuck out of sight to gather dust.” A child whose dog has recently died sits on a porch holding a collar gloomily. “But instead of hiding it, you take a moment to hold it up to the light.” The child memorializes the deceased pet in a treehouse, a hidden sanctuary. And some gifts are wonderful surprises: A child meets new neighbors, one of whom turns out to be a classmate. The tenderly reassuring text will help kids learn to weather storms, secure in the knowledge that better days are around the corner. The attractive, softly hued, painterly illustrations convey much of the book’s meaning and are rife with details for observant readers. The dog who later dies is seen on an early page, and on the final spread, the child happily leads a new dog. In the book’s first scene, a child yawns while a bird—perhaps the parent of the one that later falls—perches on a window. The characters are diverse.
Gentle guidance for life’s inevitable ups and downs. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Nov. 19, 2024
ISBN: 9781506492520
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Beaming Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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