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WANDA THE BRAVE

Name: WANDA THE BRAVE
Author: Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni
ISBN: 978-1-62371-811-4

by Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni ; illustrated by Chantelle Thorne & Burgen Thorne ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 20, 2022

Whether a mirror or window for readers, this culturally rich story exemplifies the importance of self-advocacy.

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Sometimes kids must speak out until adults listen.

In this follow-up to Wanda (2021), co-authored by Mathabo Tlali and also set in South Africa, the protagonist and her mom go to O’Natural, a hair salon for children run by Aunty Ada. Wanda has brought a picture of a complicated, “pineapple-looking,” braided hairstyle she wants, but Aunty Ada dismisses Wanda’s wishes because the salon is busy. Aunty Ada slathers Vaseline and then cream on Wanda’s hair, and it starts to burn. She and Nkiruka, another girl, protest, but Ada tells them “ubuhle buyasetyenzelwa,” isiXhosa (a South African Bantu language) for “One works hard for beauty,” and insists that the straightening chemicals remain in their hair longer despite the pain. Both girls confide that their teachers call their hair a bird’s nest when they wear it natural, and together they sing a protest song to get Aunty Ada to wash out the relaxer. The two are successful, their determination conveying a crucial lesson both to Aunty Ada and to readers about bodily autonomy. This story sheds light on a common beauty practice of chemically straightening Black hair—a process that often causes painful scalp burns. This brightly colored picture book, dominated by pinks and purples, showcases the beauty of brown skin and natural Black hair, as well as the versatility of hair, and spotlights beauty practices common throughout the African diaspora. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Whether a mirror or window for readers, this culturally rich story exemplifies the importance of self-advocacy. (glossary) (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: Sept. 20, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-62371-811-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Crocodile/Interlink

Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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THE WORLD NEEDS THE WONDER YOU SEE

by Joanna Gaines ; illustrated by Julianna Swaney ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 28, 2025

Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children.

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Interior decorator and TV personality Gaines invites readers to open their eyes and exercise their imaginations.

There’s a world to be explored out there—and only children can really take part. What does “looking for wonder” entail? Slowing down and looking up, around, and everywhere. At the outset, a group of eager, racially diverse young friends—including one who uses a wheelchair—are fully prepared for a grand adventure. They offer tips about how and where to look: Why, there’s a “grand parade” of marching ants! And, these kids add, perspective is key. A rainy day might signal gloom to some, but to those filled with wonder, showers bring “magic puddles for play”; a forest is “an enchanted world,” the ocean conceals “a spectacular city,” and the night sky boasts “extraordinary sights.” The takeaway: “Wonder is never in short supply.” It’s a robust, empowering message, as is the exhortation to “keep your mind open, and let curiosity guide the way.” Youngsters are also advised to share their discoveries. The upbeat narrative is delivered in clunky verse, but the colorful cartoonish illustrations brimming with activity and good cheer (including some adorable anthropomorphized animals in the backgrounds) make up for the textual lapses and should motivate readers to embark on their own “wonder explorations.”

Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2025

ISBN: 9781400247417

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Tommy Nelson

Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
by Joanna Gaines ; illustrated by Julianna Swaney

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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)