A quietly content snapshot of a happy childhood.
A young boy basks in the everyday joy of life on a cattle ranch in Gardella’s picture book.
“Brody knows it’s time when wildflowers begin / to fade and grass bakes golden in the sun” reads one of the author’s poetic turns of phrase describing her protagonist’s alacrity. Young Brody’s life on the family ranch includes playing with the dogs, packing shelves, watching the horses and cattle, and singing campfire songs with the cowboys. During all of these activities, Brody, who has fair skin and blond hair, knows “it’s almost time”—the repetition draws readers in with a sense of anticipation, wondering, “time for what?” The answer is something of an anticlimax: The story ends with a cattle muster, possibly Brody’s first (if not, it’s just another event adding to the sense of idyll and belonging). Mutton brings the ranch setting to life with digitally rendered illustrations that foreground the personalities of those involved—Brody, his parents and grandparents, and a host of big-eyed animals—while offering some exquisite flourishes (the abstract swirl of flowers on page three) and leaving sufficient blank space for the text to stand out. The font has a homemade, western slant to it, which adds visual vim but also might cause some readers to stumble. Notwithstanding such hiccups, young readers should approve.
A quietly content snapshot of a happy childhood.Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2023
ISBN: 9781959412328
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
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
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