Falls short in its attempt to be endearing.
In this rhyming book from Australia, a querulous kid narrates the exceptional qualities of all of her friends’ mothers—and the irritating qualities of her own.
The story begins with the narrator’s intention to “trade” her mother in for a better option. Katie’s two moms, for example, are expert seamstresses, whereas the protagonist’s mom’s costume-making skills are less than impressive. Scout’s mom is a roller-skating whiz, but the narrator’s mother is hopeless on wheels. Eve’s mom is an impeccably dressed fairy (readers of a certain age might call her a hippie), whereas the protagonist’s mother constantly wears her clothing inside out and is always in too much of a hurry to be graceful. And while Will’s mother is a gifted chef, the narrator’s mother is unable even to cook a simple pot of pasta. Throughout, the book wobbles between humor and outright cruelty, but its greatest weakness is its lack of narrative arc. After pages spent detailing her mother’s flaws, the narrator suddenly reverses her stance, declaring her mother to be her favorite: It is the first positive thing she’s said about her mother in the whole book. This startling about-face renders the ending difficult to believe, robbing the book of the optimism that could have characterized its final pages. The narrator’s mom’s skin is light brown; her daughter’s is paler.
Falls short in its attempt to be endearing. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-913639-41-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: New Frontier Publishing
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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
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