Out of this world!
What one wild and precious item would you take with you if you moved away?
Molly, her mother, and her younger brother, Luke, move to the moon. Because of space constraints, Molly and Luke are allowed to bring only one toy each—Molly brings a stuffed lamb, and Luke brings blocks. The siblings quickly figure out how to repurpose items in their module, the room they live in on the moon. Food crates become a fort, a solar panel cover becomes a cape, and tin cans become a tea set. The three of them must learn how to treat their belongings gently and with care since there is no gravity on the moon. Most important, they adapt to their new life and have fun together. An author’s note explains why it is always dark in Molly’s module as well as what gravity is and how space works differently than Earth does, and she challenges readers to make their own toys from common household items. Mayo’s illustrations are quiet yet exquisite, with expressive characters and many full-bleed spreads that indicate the vastness of space. Almost every shade of blue is included, from periwinkle to indigo, and the tiny twinkling lights in the module seem to glow on the page. Molly, Luke, and their mother are brown-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Out of this world! (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 12, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-250-25961-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
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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