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IF YOU BELIEVE IN ME

Name: IF YOU BELIEVE IN ME
Author: Rosemary Wells
ISBN: 978-1-63655-016-9

by Rosemary Wells ; illustrated by Rosemary Wells ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 2022

Makes a good, reassuring case for positive reinforcement, but it’s not a standout.

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Positive thinking can work wonders.

A young bear remarks on—and demonstrates—a number of skills and talents—cartwheeling, flying a kite, knowing books by heart, even being fearless—that, the bear adds, can only be accomplished if “You believe in me.” (“You” is depicted throughout as a caring, loving, stalwart adult bear.) The small ursine proceeds to declare confidently that no matter what the future holds, their dreams will always come true because of the special adult’s positivity. The message here is commendable: Parents and caregivers should always strive to cheer their little ones on. This volume would make a welcome gift for expectant or new parents to remind them how important it is that they develop and maintain children’s strong self-esteem. Strengthening the case that the book is aimed at adults, the narrator’s voice seems directed at them rather than youngsters; as a result, kids’ attention and understanding may flag. Though youngsters feel empowered and buoyed on a visceral level by adults’ affirmative behaviors, they’re unlikely to actually compliment their special grown-ups with the phrase “You believe in me.” Small children will probably also be confused by the book’s final line—“I believe in you”—which reverses the story’s familiar refrain suddenly. Wells comes through with her usual engaging illustrations. Lively and sweet, they present an endearing, warm adult-child relationship. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Makes a good, reassuring case for positive reinforcement, but it’s not a standout. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-63655-016-9

Page Count: 28

Publisher: Red Comet Press

Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

- BOOK REVIEW
THE LITTLE CHEFS
by Rosemary Wells ; illustrated by Rosemary Wells

- BOOK REVIEW
GENIUS IN A HIGH CHAIR
by Rosemary Wells ; illustrated by Rosemary Wells

- BOOK REVIEW
ON THE NIGHT BEFORE KINDERGARTEN
by Rosemary Wells ; illustrated by Rosemary Wells

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: June 21, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
ON THE FIRST DAY OF FIRST GRADE
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Sarah Jennings

- BOOK REVIEW
FIVE LITTLE BUNNIES
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

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IT'S NOT EASY BEING A GHOST

From the It's Not Easy Being series

by Marilyn Sadler ; illustrated by Stephanie Laberis ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 13, 2024

Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.

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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)