A rousing, artistic celebration of childhood that should appeal to readers of all ages.
A picture book offers poems that depict festivities throughout the year.
Via short poems, Howell cheerfully portrays events children experience during the seasons. Some highlight the weather. In “New Year’s,” the author writes: “Icicles of pointy picks, / Promises of snow that sticks.” Others chronicle holidays like Arbor Day, Thanksgiving, and more. Some poems provide personal interpretations and specific details. For example, in “On Mother’s Day,” the narrator recounts picking out flowers for mom. In “School Play,” the speaker references people by name, “Cardboard cut out wagons, / Boats, and rail cars, too / Are strapped around the shoulders / Of Peter, Jake, and Lou.” The poems connect seamlessly, flowing chronologically from January to December. The author uses clever language and examples kids will relate to. In “Question to Groundhog,” Howell writes: “It spatters down, hits the ground /…sleet is sloppy. / I dropped my homework paper / It made it moist and floppy.” Howell also utilizes poetic devices, including personification, as in “When Labor Day Comes”: “Autumn licks its lips… / Chews a sun ray /…Eating summer / Out of our town.” Abundant in color and texture, Messinger’s wonderful, detailed illustrations feature layered and intricately cut paper accents. The thematic, unique, and detailed portrayals include friendly faces, joyful children, and family gatherings. The outdoor elements, like colorful skylines and mountains, are particularly excellent. The people depicted are of varying ages and skin tones.
A rousing, artistic celebration of childhood that should appeal to readers of all ages.Pub Date: Nov. 17, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-950169-34-4
Page Count: 38
Publisher: Spork
Review Posted Online: Nov. 25, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A warm bundle of holiday cheer.
In a funny, feel-good tale, 12-year-old twins separated at birth meet by chance and try to pull off a family switch during the December holidays.
The girls, who are cued white, agree that it would be a delicious prank, but each has a personal motive, too: Aviva Davis, who was adopted by a culturally Jewish mom and a Black dad who was raised Christian, wonders what it’s like to celebrate Christmas. Budding author Holly Martin, who was adopted by a white-presenting single mom, sees a golden opportunity to gather experiences for a school writing assignment about facing her fears. In a plot as sweet as a Hanukkah jelly doughnut and twisty as a Christmas cinnamon roll, the pair just manages to bail one another out of a string of sticky situations—both hilarious and otherwise. They both learn something of the customs and meaning of the two holidays while working through tears and laughter—not to mention conflicts sparked by their very different personalities. Everything culminates in a holiday performance at a local senior center that will have readers rising up to cheer them on. Though their history remains tantalizingly mysterious, for the protagonists, who narrate alternating chapters, it’s mission accomplished and more: Aviva emerges feeling more secure in her Jewish identity, while anxious Holly discovers unexpected depths of courage.
A warm bundle of holiday cheer. (song lyrics) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 29, 2024
ISBN: 9781250360670
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
A charming illustration of childhood memories during the holiday season.
A colorful wintry tale ushers in Chinese New Year over two weeks.
In this picture book, the narrator recounts with nostalgia an observance of the traditional New Year in rural northern China. The snow-covered village bustles with activity as folks venture out to greet relatives and friends. “On the third day, uncles started giving LANTERNS” refers to an old custom in provincial Shaanxi—especially among maternal uncles. Palpable and immediate are Zhao Di’s eager anticipation and the care with which she “walk[s] through the snow with her lantern in case she slipped or the candle blew out in the wind.” Simple yet vivid close-ups depict Zhao Di and her friends, bundled head to toe and comparing lantern designs—accordion, watermelon, etc.—while braving the cold and a bunch of rowdy boys. All too soon, the 15th day arrives, signaling the end of the New Year celebrations. In a pivotal spread that shows Zhao Di sitting with her dog and chickens, readers are granted an interior view of the architecture and layout of a rustic farmhouse. In addition, the villagers’ various clothing styles, headdresses, and skin tones suggest the region’s diverse ethnicities and socio-economic landscapes. As the story concludes with the obligatory smashing and burning of the lanterns, Zhao Di comforts herself with the hopeful thought of lighting new lanterns next year.
A charming illustration of childhood memories during the holiday season. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Dec. 7, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5420-2984-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Amazon Crossing Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021
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