Whether getting ready for school themselves or relating to the comfort of having a loved one as a guide, young readers will...
In this feel-good story, an older brother helps his younger sibling navigate the first day of circus school.
Even at regular school, the first day can seem very chaotic, and for this dark-skinned, Afro-haired sibling duo, it is no different at circus school. Beginning with choosing the right clothes (the child tries on a daredevil suit, a ringmaster’s outfit, a cat costume, and several types of clown suit) and eating a balanced breakfast (literally—it’s a teetering tower of bowls and plates), the first day is made easier for the unnamed protagonist thanks to this big brother who declares he will “show you the ropes.” With a limited palette of bright yellow, turquoise, fuchsia, and gray, these retro-flavored digital illustrations are playful and inviting, providing details that expand on the text and make literal what could be read as metaphorical. “The bus has an ENDLESS number of seats,” declares the big brother, and the illustration depicts a smiling multitude of child clowns piling out of a yellow VW Beetle. Similarly, the “tall kid” the big brother warns his sibling “not to sit behind” is an elephant. Both adults and children depicted in this unusual school are racially diverse.
Whether getting ready for school themselves or relating to the comfort of having a loved one as a guide, young readers will enjoy this upbeat twist on the genre. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 4, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-73526-371-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2019
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet notion that falls flat.
A hit song reimagined as a book about parental love.
Featured in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1, Perri’s “A Thousand Years” deals with the speaker’s fear of romantic love. In picture-book form, it explores a parent’s unwavering love for a child, who grows from an infant into a toddler over the course of the narrative. The caregiver expresses awe when the youngster learns to stand and fear that the child might fall while beginning to walk. “I have spent every day waiting for you,” the parent says. “Darling, don’t be afraid.” What the child might fear isn’t clear from the joyful balloon- and rainbow-filled illustrations. The story borders on cloying, and words that might work when sung and accompanied by music don’t sound fresh on the page: “Time goes by. / You grow ever stronger as you fly.” The refrain, however, is a lovely sentiment: “I have loved you for a thousand years. / I’ll love you for a thousand more.” Perri’s legion of fans may flock to this version, illustrated by Ruiz with sparkling stars, bubbles, and big-eyed toddlers, but it doesn’t hold together as a narrative or an ode, as it’s billed, and it’s a long way from the original song. The child is tan-skinned, the parent is lighter-skinned, and other characters are diverse.
A sweet notion that falls flat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622599
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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