An excellent resource for parents attempting to wrangle their little superheroes’ powers for good.
Superman greets a new day.
The sun has risen on the city of Metropolis, and Superman is ready for a new day. An unnamed black boy prepares for his day as well, and the illustrations juxtapose the Man of Steel and his young fan as they go about their morning routines. Faster than a speeding locomotive, the heroes get dressed, gather their strength, and greet the day with heads held high. The illustrations use the angular Superman characters modeled by Bruce Timm in Superman: The Animated Series for the panels featuring the Man of Tomorrow and employ a rounded approach for scenes involving his young counterpart. Lex Luthor, Supergirl, and Krypto make appearances. While young readers might find it puzzling that the young protagonist seems to be afraid of brushing his teeth, they will appreciate the parallelism as he spits into the sink and Superman uses his superbreath to fight crime. This quick read includes a Morning Checklist for little readers who may forget a thing or two in their morning routines. Little ones that adore the Last Son of Krypton will go gaga for this quickly paced, brightly colored, action-packed read.
An excellent resource for parents attempting to wrangle their little superheroes’ powers for good. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-62370-850-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2016
We’ll say it: a toothsome experience.
Flash those pearly whites!
Renowned poet Florian’s jaunty rhymes suggest that a hygiene ritual many children consider bothersome can be “fun! fun! fun!” Each spread features lively scenes showing kids demonstrating tooth- and mouth-cleansing techniques as well as two couplets in which the second exclamatory lines—containing a word repeated three times—rhyme with each other (“Toothpaste on the / brush! brush! brush!” “Take your time. / Don’t rush! rush! rush!”). Parents and caregivers seeking an enjoyable, stimulating way to motivate youngsters to perform this important daily task may wish to recite the rollicking verses to provide a pleasant, rhythmic, chanting “background” whenever their kids wield their toothbrushes. The colorful, energetic illustrations depict happy, wide-eyed, racially diverse small children—some with missing teeth—taking care of their oral-hygiene business with gusto. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
We’ll say it: a toothsome experience. (Board book. 2-5)Pub Date: July 5, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-4998-1340-1
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
If Black Lives Matter, they deserve more specificity than this.
A lushly illustrated picture book with a troubling message.
Little Lala walks with her father after his successful day of fishing. When Mama calls her home for bed, a host of “good night”s delays her: to the bird, the monkey, and even the rock. As Lala wanders through her village in the darkening twilight, readers appreciate its expansive beauty and Lala’s simple joys. Although it’s been artfully written and richly illustrated by an award-winning author of many multicultural stories, this book has problems that overshadow its beauty. “African veld” sets the story in southern Africa, but its vague locale encourages Americans to think that distinctions among African countries don’t matter. Lala wears braids or locks that stick straight up, recalling the 19th-century pickaninny, and her inconsistent skin color ranges from deep ebony like her father’s to light brown. Shadows may cause some of these differences, but if it weren’t for her identifiable hair, readers might wonder if the same child wanders from page to page. Perhaps most striking of all is Lala’s bedtime story: not an African tale but an American classic. While this might evoke nostalgia in some readers, it also suggests that southern Africa has no comparably great bedtime books for Lala, perhaps in part because American children’s literature dominates the world market.
If Black Lives Matter, they deserve more specificity than this. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-399-17384-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2016
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