A perfect story to help children learn about the importance of opening their hearts.
Home is more than a place; it’s a feeling that builds in your heart.
Found on the ground near a goat, Yula, who’s about 4, is afraid and alone. She can’t walk, and her understanding of language is limited. Then along comes a nice lady who calls herself Mum. She cares for Yula in the warmth and safety of her home. And once Yula can manage, Mum takes her to a school for orphans and leaves. The whole wide world is opening quickly for Yula. She is happy. And then...Mum returns with a little boy. Yula struggles with her emotions. She doesn’t understand why Mum is holding another child’s hand, so she lashes out, then runs away before finally coming to understand the power of sharing her heart and her home. Jennings’ tender story rings true and swirls with old-fashioned warmth. Campbell relies on a palette of earthy tones enriched with warm yellows and golds, punctuated with pops of green. She demonstrates the range of Yula’s emotions with minimal strokes. Together, art and text create a moving tale about a special little girl. Characters are Black, and on the dedication page, Jennings thanks two individuals who introduced her to the children of Hope Development Center, an orphanage in Kenya. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A perfect story to help children learn about the importance of opening their hearts. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 31, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-88995-575-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Red Deer Press
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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