Not a lot in the way of sparkle here.
A trio of mischief-makers purloin sparkles.
In order to sneak into a stage show, a toad, a poodle, and a pigeon help themselves to a cape, a crown, and a pair of boots, respectively; each item gleams brightly. The critters adorn themselves and hide under the cape. A pint-sized usher chastens them for stealing, but they brush him off, and he frowns as they breeze on by. His uniform lacks luster. Next thing he knows, he’s being carried aloft into the theater by some other sparkly animals, and—whoa!—he’s suddenly bedecked, too, and joins the original trio onstage. But what’s this? The actual entertainer shows up, angry at the theft of the sparkly costume—and the erstwhile performers are unceremoniously escorted out the theater’s back door, leaving their flashy gear behind. They encounter a chicken who’s brandishing two sparkly wands that create fireworks, and in the end, “everyone has sparkles.” This silly, essentially plotless story, expressed in passable verse, doesn’t have much point or humor and will be appreciated most by kids who really dig sparkles. The colorful, lively illustrations, created with gouache, graphite powder, and cut paper, feature expressive characters and sparkle just a bit. Some imaginative typography also adds a few touches of creative dazzle. The young usher is light-skinned; the performer is brown-skinned.
Not a lot in the way of sparkle here. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 12, 2024
ISBN: 9780735270398
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 16, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2024
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
Hee haw.
The print version of a knee-slapping cumulative ditty.
In the song, Smith meets a donkey on the road. It is three-legged, and so a “wonky donkey” that, on further examination, has but one eye and so is a “winky wonky donkey” with a taste for country music and therefore a “honky-tonky winky wonky donkey,” and so on to a final characterization as a “spunky hanky-panky cranky stinky-dinky lanky honky-tonky winky wonky donkey.” A free musical recording (of this version, anyway—the author’s website hints at an adults-only version of the song) is available from the publisher and elsewhere online. Even though the book has no included soundtrack, the sly, high-spirited, eye patch–sporting donkey that grins, winks, farts, and clumps its way through the song on a prosthetic metal hoof in Cowley’s informal watercolors supplies comical visual flourishes for the silly wordplay. Look for ready guffaws from young audiences, whether read or sung, though those attuned to disability stereotypes may find themselves wincing instead or as well.
Hee haw. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: May 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-545-26124-1
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
