A punny KO for spunky fairy-tale lovers and storytimes.
Princess tropes get a takedown when an undersize challenger steps into the royal ring.
“Welcome to the WPW: World Princess Wrestling,” where reigning champion Swan Princess, “the baddest bird of the ballet,” is ready to rumble with fairy-tale royalty in defense of the Enchanted Championship Belt. Light-skinned Rapunzel the Reaper “comes in hot with her signature Hair Whiplash” move, and Kaguya (of Japanese folklore) gives it a valiant go with her Moonsault, but in round after round, the royal highnesses fall flat. Enter “a kid in a little red wrestling singlet,” a pint-size, rosy-cheeked, light-skinned child who’s been hungry to give the Swan a go. Little Red, who up to now has served as the towel girl, unleashes her “wolf mode” to demonstrate that “anyone can battle, no matter what size.” Direct narration by a tuxedoed green ogre sets the tone of a zealous sportscast, and the strong female cast is a plus. Speech-bubble smack talk, in a distinct font and laden with fairy-tale references, keeps this sporty romp moving along at a speedy clip, while expressive mixed-media illustrations capture clever details; a closer look at the title page hints at Little Red’s brawn, and folklore favorites, diverse in skin tone, dot the crowd. All the mayhem and a little magical “kayfabe” (presenting the unreal as real) enchant, and, of course, “they all lived scrappily ever after.”
A punny KO for spunky fairy-tale lovers and storytimes. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 19, 2025
ISBN: 9780593621370
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: April 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
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
Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.”
Bewitched by the rhythms of jazz all around her in Depression-era Kansas City, little Melba Doretta Liston longs to make music in this fictional account of a little-known jazz great.
Picking up the trombone at 7, the little girl teaches herself to play with the support of her Grandpa John and Momma Lucille, performing on the radio at 8 and touring as a pro at just 17. Both text and illustrations make it clear that it’s not all easy for Melba; “The Best Service for WHITES ONLY” reads a sign in a hotel window as the narrative describes a bigotry-plagued tour in the South with Billie Holiday. But joy carries the day, and the story ends on a high note, with Melba “dazzling audiences and making headlines” around the world. Russell-Brown’s debut text has an innate musicality, mixing judicious use of onomatopoeia with often sonorous prose. Morrison’s sinuous, exaggerated lines are the perfect match for Melba’s story; she puts her entire body into her playing, the exaggerated arch of her back and thrust of her shoulders mirroring the curves of her instrument. In one thrilling spread, the evening gown–clad instrumentalist stands over the male musicians, her slide crossing the gutter while the back bow disappears off the page to the left. An impressive discography complements a two-page afterword and a thorough bibliography.
Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.” (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-60060-898-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2014
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