A general but timely overview of pandemic response.
A young girl imagines the different roles people have in a pandemic in this Chinese import.
While her doctor parents are away fighting “the virus,” the narrator spends her days under the care of her grandfather at home. To keep her entertained, Grandpa decides to introduce a game of pretend: Each day, she’ll pretend to be someone new. One day she is one of the many scientists “all over the world searching for a cure to beat the virus.” On another, she is a soldier delivering medical supplies. Through the game, she learns of the tough, brave roles people in the community play during a health crisis. While each day brings a new role to inhabit, bedtime is hard. Sometimes she can’t wait for what the next day will bring. Oftentimes, though, lips quiver, a nose tingles, and eyes dampen. But as Grandpa reassures, “It’s ok to be sad.” Soon, 14 days are up, and a masked Grandpa and granddaughter step outside. Isolation is over. Her next role will be that of a writer. And the task? To remember “all the wonderful people who have worked so hard to keep [them] safe.” Zhao’s quarantine narrative provides a primer of community helpers and first responders. Her text also highlights the emotional toll it takes on these individuals as well as the uncertainty both Grandpa and the girl feel. Huang’s illustrations bring the more playful imagery to life: A magician breathes fire, killing germs; a delivery person is adorned with fairy wings. Both Grandpa and narrator have pale skin, and the girl wears her straight, black hair in pigtails; they eat with chopsticks.
A general but timely overview of pandemic response. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 20, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-64074-121-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Cardinal Media
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
Echoes of Runaway Bunny color this exchange between a bath-averse piglet and his patient mother. Using a strategy that would probably be a nonstarter in real life, the mother deflects her stubborn offspring’s string of bath-free occupational conceits with appeals to reason: “Pirates NEVER EVER take baths!” “Pirates don’t get seasick either. But you do.” “Yeesh. I’m an astronaut, okay?” “Well, it is hard to bathe in zero gravity. It’s hard to poop and pee in zero gravity too!” And so on, until Mom’s enticing promise of treasure in the deep sea persuades her little Treasure Hunter to take a dive. Chunky figures surrounded by lots of bright white space in Segal’s minimally detailed watercolors keep the visuals as simple as the plotline. The language isn’t quite as basic, though, and as it rendered entirely in dialogue—Mother Pig’s lines are italicized—adult readers will have to work hard at their vocal characterizations for it to make any sense. Moreover, younger audiences (any audiences, come to that) may wonder what the piggy’s watery closing “EUREKA!!!” is all about too. Not particularly persuasive, but this might coax a few young porkers to get their trotters into the tub. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: March 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-399-25425-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A fresh take on an enduring theme.
When Irie tells her momma she hates her big poofy hair, her momma explains that everything about Irie was perfectly custom made.
Irie wants her hair to swing and bounce like the “pretty hair” that “everyone else” has. But Momma tells her that she didn’t make Irie to be like everyone else. “I made you to be you.” Momma explains that when she was expecting Irie, she talked to God and made special requests. Out of all the skin tones in the world, Momma chose her favorite for Irie. The same for her hair type, her sparkling eyes, her kissable nose, and her bright smile. Momma also chose a good heart for Irie, and when she was born, she was perfect, and as she grew, she was kind. When Momma tells her “you are all of my favorite things,” Irie runs to the mirror and sees herself with new eyes: a “most perfect me.” This sweet, imaginative tale highlights the importance of parental love in boosting children’s self-esteem and will be a touching read-aloud for families who have struggled with issues of fitting in. The story is a challenging one to illustrate; the full-color digital art is warm with soft shades of natural-looking color but struggles to create engaging scenes to accompany Momma’s explanation of her conversation with God. The multiple spreads showing Irie and Momma flying through the atmosphere among clouds, stars, and hearts become a bit monotonous and lack depth of expression. Characters are Black. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A fresh take on an enduring theme. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 3, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-42694-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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