Both baby twins and a grandma-centered storyline add range to the new-baby shelf.
Can Poppy learn to share her beloved GeeGee with her new twin baby sisters?
Poppy, an anthropomorphic bunny, is excited both about her new baby sisters and about GeeGee’s two-week visit. Kids at school remember that GeeGee always does crafts with Poppy, but veteran older siblings also warn her that the babies may monopolize GeeGee’s time. When the latter proves true, Poppy’s rabbit nose is decidedly out of joint, and she starts resenting the babies and her grandmother. She acts out, making messes and deciding that GeeGee is the “worst grandma” and the twins are the “worst babies.” Exasperated after one terrific mess, GeeGee sends Poppy to her room, and in a contemplative spread that slows down time by showing Poppy seven times in one scene, she reflects on her actions and comes up with a plan to make things right and not “be the worst big sister.” The about-face she undergoes as she enlists friends to plan a welcome party for the babies and GeeGee might strike some as far-fetched. Also potentially implausible is just how laid-back and open Poppy’s parents are to having a great big party while parenting newborn twins. Despite such quibbles, Bonnet’s emotive, energetic illustrations help create memorable characters, especially in their depiction of rocker, biker GeeGee and through Poppy’s dramatic facial expressions (especially the scowls).
Both baby twins and a grandma-centered storyline add range to the new-baby shelf. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 22, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-58089-770-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
A delightfully silly celebration of familial love.
A child in search of the best hugger takes a bedtime tour of the world’s most unusual embraces.
In the opening pages of this rhyming picture book, an unnamed narrator asks a curly-haired, tan-skinned child who they think gives the best hugs. At the narrator’s behest, the protagonist spends their bedtime routine receiving affection from a wacky cast of creatures, ranging from meerkats to porcupines to narwhals. These animals have a variety of body types, but even those with a lack of limbs still express their love; the seahorse, for example, gives the child a “smooch” right before bathtime, and a grinning cobra offers the child a “clinch,” wrapping itself around their leg. Although many of the animals prove to be more prickly than cozy—the narrator points out, for example, the sharpness of bird beaks and porcupine quills—even the snuggliest koalas and bears cannot compare to the best hug of all: a parent’s embrace right before bedtime. The use of second-person address combined with the protagonist’s beautifully illustrated facial expressions and the buoyant, clever lines of verse render this book a hilarious and whimsical ride sure to delight both children and the adults who read to them. The pictures and text work together to create a clear narrative arc for the protagonist, and though the ending is a bit predictable, it’s nevertheless a wonderful payoff. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A delightfully silly celebration of familial love. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 24, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-5476-1236-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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