A gentle demonstration of how familial bonds—and traditions—can endure even over vast physical distances.
A meaningful ritual brings young Silas and Great-Grandma Faye closer together.
According to observant Jewish tradition, Havdalah signifies the formal end of Shabbat on Saturday night and its “separation” from the other days of the week. (Havdalah means “separation” in Hebrew.) On one of their weekly video calls, Great-Grandma Faye tells Silas how much she loves Havdalah; she suggests that the two of them perform the ceremony virtually until they can meet in person again. Great-Grandma Faye shows Silas a spice box—a very important item used in the ceremony—made by Great-Grandpa long ago. Inspired, Silas creates his own version from a lidded plastic cup, which he fills with cinnamon, his favorite spice, and shows it to Great-Grandma Faye on their next call. When Great-Grandma Faye finally arrives, the family observes Havdalah with both boxes. Children will appreciate Silas and Great-Grandma Faye’s loving intergenerational relationship and their up-to-date communication style; readers will smile as the two sign off with variations on the phrase “See you soon” (“See you soon, Harvest Moon!” “See you soon, Green Balloon!”). Great-Grandma Faye’s clear yet whimsically child-friendly explanation of Havdalah (“the in-between-est part of the week”) will resonate with youngsters. Muted illustrations depict a loving, light-skinned family amid cozy settings; some background characters are brown-skinned.
A gentle demonstration of how familial bonds—and traditions—can endure even over vast physical distances. (about Havdalah, making a spice box for Havdalah) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 4, 2025
ISBN: 9798765627440
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
An affirming, though lackluster, look at a loving queer family.
For his debut picture book, teacher and activist Chasten Buttigieg draws inspiration from life with husband Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. transportation secretary.
The big day has finally arrived! Rosie and Jojo have been counting down the days until Papa comes home from his work trip. With a little help from Daddy, they make “welcome home” signs to greet Papa at the airport, pick flowers from the garden, and bake a “seven-layer chocolate cake with purple and yellow frosting.” Much to Daddy’s bemusement, the kids gather all of Papa’s favorite things, including his robe and slippers and their adorable pooch, Butter, as they walk out the door to pick up Papa from his travels. The author offers an affectionate portrait of the everyday domestic life of a same-sex family unit. While many kids and adults will be pleased to see their experiences reflected on the page, both the choppy writing and the flat digital artwork are fairly bland. Characters display similarly excited facial expressions throughout, while the portrayal of the children borders on overly cutesy at times, with intentionally misspelled signs throughout the house (“Papa’s Very Spechull Garden. Please do not tutch”). Like the author’s actual children, Rosie and Jojo are brown-skinned, while Daddy and Papa present white.
An affirming, though lackluster, look at a loving queer family. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN: 9780593693988
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
