An appealing story about remembering those whom one has lost.
A boy spends special time with family at the beach in Mettler’s picture book.
The story opens with Gus waking up, enticed by the smell of a pancake breakfast. At the table, Gus realizes that Mama has looked especially tired since Gus and his sister Willa-Mae’s father died. The pair spend lots of quality time with Pops, their grandfather, at the nearby beach on weekends. There, they hunt for shells, which Gus loves, and he thinks about the special connection that he shared with his dad. After saving an urchin, Gus looks at other shells with characteristics that remind him of his family. A protective conch for Mama, a “White Baby Ear” for Willa-Mae, and angel wings for Daddy. After a snack, Gus and Willa-Mae find a beautiful scallop shell for the very first time before beginning a thoughtful journey home. Overall, this story is about living with and processing grief in everyday moments. It effectively explains the importance of holding on to happy memories of someone while also understanding that they’re no longer in one’s life. Eckstrom’s sweet watercolor illustrations ably convey the joy that the children feel when spending time with Pops. The text contains references to religion (prayer-like, God, Heaven), which may prompt questions and additional conversation.
An appealing story about remembering those whom one has lost.Pub Date: June 27, 2023
ISBN: 9798985793024
Page Count: 38
Publisher: Elyon Books
Review Posted Online: June 20, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity.
A collection of parental wishes for a child.
It starts out simply enough: two children run pell-mell across an open field, one holding a high-flying kite with the line “I wish you more ups than downs.” But on subsequent pages, some of the analogous concepts are confusing or ambiguous. The line “I wish you more tippy-toes than deep” accompanies a picture of a boy happily swimming in a pool. His feet are visible, but it's not clear whether he's floating in the deep end or standing in the shallow. Then there's a picture of a boy on a beach, his pockets bulging with driftwood and colorful shells, looking frustrated that his pockets won't hold the rest of his beachcombing treasures, which lie tantalizingly before him on the sand. The line reads: “I wish you more treasures than pockets.” Most children will feel the better wish would be that he had just the right amount of pockets for his treasures. Some of the wordplay, such as “more can than knot” and “more pause than fast-forward,” will tickle older readers with their accompanying, comical illustrations. The beautifully simple pictures are a sweet, kid- and parent-appealing blend of comic-strip style and fine art; the cast of children depicted is commendably multiethnic.
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4521-2699-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2015
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