A lighthearted road map for grappling with “muy bad” feelings.
After a young Latine girl has a terrible day at school, her grandmother lends a sympathetic ear.
Martina tells Abuela about all the things that happened on this “muy bad day”: Her seat on the bus had a broken spring, she fell in the mud and later stepped on “un grande wad of gum,” and Mean Mike threw a worm at her. Gentle Abuela commiserates (“That was un día muy malo!”), but not even a big hug makes things better. Abuela suggests that Martina write down her thoughts, but that only serves as evidence of how bad the day really was. The child stews sadly, but when she hears music wafting in from the kitchen, she wanders in to see Abuela singing and using kitchen implements like instruments. The rhythm is so contagious that Martina can’t resist! Abuela’s finally found a way to make Martina feel better. A fiesta to celebrate her muy bad day, in all its unfortunate glory, is just what Martina needs. With vibrant colors, adorably drawn, expressive characters, and pages crammed with balloons and musical notes, this is a fantastic reminder that sometimes it’s best to lean into negative feelings. Interspersed with Spanish, the tale warmly acknowledges that tough days are hard but that with support and a good sense of humor, they can eventually be turned into sunnier ones.
A lighthearted road map for grappling with “muy bad” feelings. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780063284524
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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