A lovely ode to geographic, cultural, and familial ties.
A melodious lullaby reminds an Egyptian child of the sensory delights of the city they left behind.
When Ametti Fatma comes to visit from Egypt, her comforting presence and gift of sweet sahlab, as well as the family’s increased use of Arabic, make the young narrator miss Cairo, her old home. Though the girl and her family have not yet gone back, Ametti Fatma assures the little one that those who have drank from the Nile will always return. And each night, Ametti Fatma sings a soothing, “House That Jack Built”–style lullaby (“This is the Nile, / which flows through the city.” “This is the boat that glides on the Nile, / which flows through the city…”). In the child’s dreams, she and her aunt are transported back to Egypt, where they take in the many sights and sounds of the Cairene landmarks and streets, filled with Egyptians diverse in age, skin tone, size, and ability. Though Ametti Fatma’s visit eventually comes to an end, the child knows that her auntie’s song and her memories of her former home will always be with her. Aly’s busy mixed-media illustrations creatively incorporate photos of buildings, food, animals, and more, while Pliska’s text makes effective use of onomatopoeia. Together, they bring to life a crowded, cacophonous, yet vibrant, alive, and beautiful city. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A lovely ode to geographic, cultural, and familial ties. (author’s and illustrator’s notes, glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 18, 2023
ISBN: 9781250222497
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
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
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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