A gentle, hopeful dream for a kinder world.
Rhyming narration gifts words of advice and encouragement to a newborn child.
In celebration of the arrival of a new child, the narrator shares dreams for their future. Whether the child grows up to be “a sequined sparkler” or a “soil-squelching mud sculptor,” the narrator hopes they will be a curious, kind “champion of change” who rejoices in differences, including their own. Throughout, the narrator addresses their words to “you,” which could refer to the “child of moonbeams” born on the first page or to the audience. Many of the lines rhyme, but the text does not sustain a set rhyme scheme. Similarly, no consistent rhythm carries through the lines. The title suggests a book especially for sons. In this light, the words offer a countermessage to societal expectations for boys that affirms a spectrum of expression, validates feelings, and does not shame the need to cry. However, as in the (nearly) simultaneously publishing companion, Dreams for Our Daughters (Sept. 29), Doyle uses no other gendered descriptors, apart from the instance of “sons” in the title. Whimsical illustrations of giant flowers, costume play, and mud-dinosaur sculpting in combination with the soft color palette help set the tone of lighthearted tenderness. Dynamic arrangements of the words and the illustrations around them add a sense of movement and liveliness, amplified by the larger-than-typical trim. Fanciful scenes of children exploring their surroundings reflect a racial diversity.
A gentle, hopeful dream for a kinder world. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5557-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Eerdmans
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A $16.99 Mother’s Day card for cat lovers.
The team of Costain and Lovšin (Daddies are Awesome, 2016) gives moms their due.
Rhyming verses tell of all the ways moms are amazing: “Mommies are magic. / They kiss away troubles… // …find gold in the sunlight / and rainbows in bubbles.” Moms are joyful—the best playmates. They are also fearless and will protect and soothe if you are scared. Clever moms know just what to do when you’re sad, sporty moms run and leap and climb, while tender moms cuddle. “My mommy’s so special. / I tell her each day… // … just how much I love her / in every way!” Whereas dads were illustrated with playful pups and grown-up dogs in the previous book, moms are shown as cats with their kittens in myriad colors, sizes, and breeds. Lovšin’s cats look as though they are smiling at each other in their fun, though several spreads are distractingly cut in half by the gutter. However delightful the presentation—the verse rolls fairly smoothly, and the cats are pretty cute—the overall effect is akin to a cream puff’s: very sweet and insubstantial.
A $16.99 Mother’s Day card for cat lovers. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 4, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-62779-651-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: March 19, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2017
A useful primer for socioemotional growth.
Queer Eye star Karamo Brown and his son Jason “Rachel” Brown affirm that all feelings—even negative ones—are OK.
A round-faced boy with brown skin, big brown eyes, and a bright smile walks outside, talking with his dad about feelings. With the son’s speech printed in blue and Dad’s in black, the boy announces that he’s happy and shows it by jumping and spinning while Dad dances. The book’s palette, which often reflects the boy’s emotional state, shifts drastically when a thunderstorm blows in as the sky swirls with patterns in deep blue and purple, and a thick yellow lightning bolt blasts through—a dramatic scene that represents the boy’s perception of the turbulent weather as he sits on the ground crying, hugging his knees. Dad assures him that it’s all right to feel and express fear and helps him calm these negative emotions by encouraging him to stretch and breathe deeply. While the book’s lesson is conveyed in a slightly heavy-handed manner, it’s a good message, and readers will appreciate seeing a story that centers a Black father and son dispelling the stereotype that men and boys—especially those of color—don’t or shouldn’t express emotions. The backmatter includes an emotion wheel with the boy showing a range of facial expressions, accompanied by activities and questions. The acronym “FEEL OKAY” offers opportunities to practice discussing emotions. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A useful primer for socioemotional growth. (authors’ note) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Nov. 8, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-63893-010-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Zando
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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