A glorious book that’s a feast for both eyes and ears, this story set in a multicultural context will ring true for children...
Little Leila discovers that she is so much more than just “skinny arms and knobby knees.”
Leila is at her grandmother’s house for their weekly Friday family dinner. When Naani tells her, “Saffron is a good color for you,” a buoyant Leila goes on the lookout for other things to like about herself. That evening, Leila is delighted to discover that she and her aunt have the same smile. She also bursts with pride when everyone praises the curry she helped Naani make (with some cilantro from neighbor Miguel’s garden). Just before going home, Leila tries on Naani’s saffron-colored silk scarf and is surprised by how beautiful she looks in the mirror. Only then does she realize that “each and every part of me comes together to make me who I am.” While young children may need help understanding how Leila gets from A to B, there is much to love about this book. Guidroz’s sensory magic shines in the “clink clink” of Naani’s glass bangles and in her shimmering silk scarves “the color of lentils, bright and orange,” and “pomegranates, juicy and rosy.” Plus, Mirtalipova’s mixed-media illustrations expertly convey the vivacity and warmth of Leila’s family and their Pakistani culture. A glossary in the back provides pronunciations and definitions for Arabic and Urdu words included.
A glorious book that’s a feast for both eyes and ears, this story set in a multicultural context will ring true for children of all stripes. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 18, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5344-2564-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 11, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators.
Existing artwork from an artistic giant inspires a fairy-tale reimagination by a master of the horror genre.
In King’s interpretation of a classic Brothers Grimm story, which accompanies set and costume designs that the late Sendak created for a 1997 production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera, siblings Hansel and Gretel survive abandonment in the woods and an evil witch’s plot to gobble them up before finding their “happily ever after” alongside their father. Prose with the reassuring cadence of an old-timey tale, paired with Sendak’s instantly recognizable artwork, will lull readers before capitalizing on these creators’ knack for injecting darkness into seemingly safe spaces. Gaping faces loom in crevices of rocks and trees, and a gloomy palette of muted greens and ocher amplify the story’s foreboding tone, while King never sugarcoats the peach-skinned children’s peril. Branches with “clutching fingers” hide “the awful enchanted house” of a “child-stealing witch,” all portrayed in an eclectic mix of spot and full-bleed images. Featuring insults that might strike some as harsh (“idiot,” “fool”), the lengthy, dense text may try young readers’ patience, and the often overwhelmingly ominous mood feels more pitched to adults—particularly those familiar with King and Sendak—but an introduction acknowledges grandparents as a likely audience, and nostalgia may prompt leniency over an occasional disconnect between words and art.
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780062644695
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2025
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