Best for the biggest fans.
The text of Redding’s famous song (made more so by Aretha Franklin) is laid out against illustrations of diverse families.
In this volume of the LyricPop series, the lyrics of “Respect” are printed in lines of alternating colors, with backup (“just a little bit,” “Ooh,” “re re re re...,” etc.) printed in speech bubbles. The top half of each spread depicts adults enacting various careers, such as education, military, science, construction, and medicine, while the bottom half pictures children playing at the same career seen above. The same Black family is featured on each page while diverse characters fill in extra roles. The illustrations carry enough interest to sustain attention through the end of the book, though it will take some practice—or dedication to sharing the song—for caregivers and children to pace the reading/singing with the page turns. Three other series entries publish simultaneously: Move the Crowd (by Eric Barrier and William Griffin and illustrated by Kirk Parrish), with rap lyrics poetic enough to be read aloud without the awkward decision whether to sing or speak; These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ (by Lee Hazelwood and illustrated by Rachel Moss), in which a cat gets jealous when her human gets a dog; and We Got the Beat (by Charlotte Caffey and illustrated by Kaitlyn Shea O’Connor), in which a couple kids and some flamingos romp to bubble-gum backgrounds. Average families may not know how to enjoy these titles, but musical families will.
Best for the biggest fans. (discussion questions) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-61775-844-7
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Akashic
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2020
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
A muddled message shoots for the moon but never quite gets all the way off the ground.
A little mouse experiences BIG changes thanks to a spectacular talent.
Dee’s a singer to her core. She croons absolutely everywhere, so when her teacher Miss Pink suggests that her students bring in something that symbolizes what they enjoy doing, Dee brings in a song. As she sings it, however, her joy causes her to physically grow huge! At first this makes her feel special, but as the day goes on she feels lonely and out of place. Shrinking back to her normal size, she worries that this means she can never sing again. But thanks to the encouragement of her mother and little sister, she realizes that being special is nothing to be ashamed of. However, though her classmates have skills of their own, only Dee changes, indicating that some talents are more transformative than others. After all, while everyone is enthralled by Dee, Ren the turtle’s talent for drawing a replica of a space station is something he “made everyone watch.” The true standout in this show comes from Sinquett’s dynamic art, capable of encompassing the emotional highs and lows of elementary school kids. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A muddled message shoots for the moon but never quite gets all the way off the ground. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-368-07806-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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