A book that will both get kids outside and give them the words to describe what they find.
A grandpa and a grandchild explore the many textures found outdoors.
The short rhyming verses, written from the grandfather’s perspective, largely stick to mentions of what the two see and feel on their autumn walk. Meanwhile, Hokkanen’s illustrations tell a larger tale about a child who’s sullen at being pulled away from a video game but gradually warms up to the wonders of nature exploration and Grandfather’s irrepressible enthusiasm and hijinks. Thistle weeds are “fuzzy and spiked”; long-stemmed reeds are “feathered and fluffy.” The two also encounter oozy mud, wet stones in the creek, spongy moss, gnarled roots, and sticky frog toes. When the youngster trips and falls over a log and “day fades to night,” the textures turn toward ones that reflect the tender multigenerational relationship: Grandfather’s woolen cap, his “wrinkly and warm” hand, and his “scratchy and dry” chin as he tucks his little one into bed. Backmatter provides two activity ideas, a basic summary of the five senses (“You taste only with your tongue”), and a safety note. The bright fall colors will draw listeners in, but it’s the grandparent-grandchild bond that’s the true star. This grandpa allows the child time to dilly-dally, observe, and just be out in nature. The two share the same light skin and brown hair.
A book that will both get kids outside and give them the words to describe what they find. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
ISBN: 9780823456406
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
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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
So sweet it’ll have readers heading for their toothbrushes.
Another entry in the how-much-I-love-you genre.
The opening spread shows a blue elephant-and-child pair, the child atop the adult, white hearts arcing between their uplifted trunks: “You’re a gift and a blessing in every way. / I love you more each and every day.” From there, the adult elephant goes on to tell the child how they are loved more than all sorts of things, some rhyming better than others: “I love you more than all the spaghetti served in Rome, // and more than each and every dog loves her bone.” More than stars, fireflies, “all the languages spoken in the world,” “all the dancers that have ever twirled,” all the kisses ever given and miles ever driven, “all the adventures you have ahead,” and “all the peanut butter and jelly spread on bread!” Representative of all the world’s languages are “I love you” in several languages (with no pronunciation help): English, Sioux, French, German, Swahili, Spanish, Hawaiian, Chinese, and Arabic (these two last in Roman characters only). Bold colors and simple illustrations with no distracting details keep readers’ focus on the main ideas. Dashed lines give the artwork (and at least one word on every spread) the look of 2-D sewn toys.
So sweet it’ll have readers heading for their toothbrushes. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: Dec. 4, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4926-8398-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Sept. 16, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2018
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