A sweet celebration of the different notes that create the song of family.
What does it mean to be a family?
Arturo and his sister, Emilyn, who are of Chinese and Latine heritage, seek inspiration for Emilyn’s poem about their family as they set off to pick up supplies for a big party. From the delicious cakes at Tía Cari’s bakery to the colorful kites at Yeh Yeh’s toy shop to dominoes at Abuelo’s house, they discover something at each stop that sparks their imaginations. Their family members may be different from one another, but just like ingredients in a cake, colors in a rainbow, or notes in a song, they are part of something special together. The story engages the senses, whether it’s the sound of oil in Amah’s wok going “ping-ping-ping,” the scent of Tía’s pastries, or the sensation of a falling petal fluttering on Arturo’s face like Mama’s kisses. All these moments help evoke a relatable feeling of familial love. The title could have benefitted from a glossary or more context for readers unfamiliar with terms in Chinese or Spanish such as dan tat or palmita. Still, the message of the beauty in united differences shines through. Digitally rendered watercolor, gouache, ink, and colored pencil illustrations bring to life a cast of wide-eyed, big-headed characters whose love for one another is apparent. The author’s note reveals that the story was inspired by her own journey to embrace her multiracial background. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A sweet celebration of the different notes that create the song of family. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780062970541
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2023
A sweet notion that falls flat.
A hit song reimagined as a book about parental love.
Featured in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1, Perri’s “A Thousand Years” deals with the speaker’s fear of romantic love. In picture-book form, it explores a parent’s unwavering love for a child, who grows from an infant into a toddler over the course of the narrative. The caregiver expresses awe when the youngster learns to stand and fear that the child might fall while beginning to walk. “I have spent every day waiting for you,” the parent says. “Darling, don’t be afraid.” What the child might fear isn’t clear from the joyful balloon- and rainbow-filled illustrations. The story borders on cloying, and words that might work when sung and accompanied by music don’t sound fresh on the page: “Time goes by. / You grow ever stronger as you fly.” The refrain, however, is a lovely sentiment: “I have loved you for a thousand years. / I’ll love you for a thousand more.” Perri’s legion of fans may flock to this version, illustrated by Ruiz with sparkling stars, bubbles, and big-eyed toddlers, but it doesn’t hold together as a narrative or an ode, as it’s billed, and it’s a long way from the original song. The child is tan-skinned, the parent is lighter-skinned, and other characters are diverse.
A sweet notion that falls flat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622599
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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
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