A mouthwatering celebration of family, sharing, and, of course, delicious, fresh-baked bread.
Nana spends a cozy morning teaching her grandchild how to make their family’s special pull-apart bread.
The recipe for “Nana rolls” has been in the family for generations, and finally it’s the grandchild’s turn to learn. As they gather ingredients, Nana tells the child narrator—affectionately referred to as Little Pickle—the story of how her own Nana made the bread: She gathered eggs from the chicken coop, milked the cow, and stirred the dough with a wooden spoon instead of using the stand mixer that Little Pickle can turn on with the push of a button. Nana reflects on how the sharing of bread kept the family connected even when they were physically apart. Even through tough times, “still there was bread.” Nana and Little Pickle talk about the many reasons people bake together, and Nana lists types of bread made around the world: focaccia, challah, naan, fry bread, and more. Cheerful, immersive pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations bathe Nana and Little Pickle in sunlight and emanate the warmth of the kitchen as they bake. This sweet story is full of heart, spotlighting the importance of intergenerational connections and the comfort of home. The characters read white.
A mouthwatering celebration of family, sharing, and, of course, delicious, fresh-baked bread. (author’s note, Grandma Moe’s recipe for Nana rolls) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9780063216556
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.
Another creature is on the loose.
The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781728274300
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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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