The premature birth of her brother alarms Rosie, who must learn to accept her tiny sibling into her life. Rosie, a young rabbit, eagerly awaits the arrival of her new baby brother. However, when Bobby is born early, this frail creature is not at all what she expected. Afraid, she ignores him; refusing to hold him, push his carriage, or rock his cradle. Her wise father resolves the dilemma for the perplexed little hare with a poignant story about two friends: Tortoise and Hare. When Tortoise and Hare get separated while out in the woods, Tortoise is left to journey home in the dark. Gradually but persistently, he continues on until Hare returns with a lantern. The moral, Rosie quickly understands, is that, like Tortoise, Bobby’s progress is slow but steady. Wild uses food analogies ingeniously to describe Bobby’s growth; he weighs as much as an onion when born, but soon increases from potato to turnip-size—surely, Rosie reasons, pumpkin size can’t be far away! These whimsical descriptions clarify the mysterious lingo of grams or ounces traditionally used to calculate a preemie’s crucial development. While this text deals specifically with premature infants, it works equally well for apprehensive siblings of any newborn. Brooks’s watercolor illustrations are infinitely sweet, capturing both tender family moments and the bouncy, playful exuberance of young Rosie. The layout of the text and the illustrations are faintly reminiscent of another sentimental rabbit tale: Guess How Much I Love You (not reviewed). Fans of that work will surely embrace this warm-hearted story. The soft pastel illustrations, printed on coarsely grained, creamy-colored paper and the meticulous hand-lettering lend a homespun feel to the book. A cozy tale to share with siblings. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-7894-2630-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: DK Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2000
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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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