Cozy.
A song made into a picture book rings the dinner bell for community togetherness.
Without musical accompaniment, Workman’s lyrics seem a bit forced in their rhythm, rhyme, and repetition, but Eckwall’s illustrations help transform them into a story about a child and a woman making and sharing soup. They are both white and appear to be a grandmother and her grandchild, though this is nowhere specified in the text. The community that gathers with them in their home for soup on a wintry day is a diverse one, as people with various skin tones, hair textures, and attire come to sit at the table. One child wearing a feathered cape arrives astride a wolf and accompanied by a veritable peaceable kingdom of forest animals. This characterization tips the visual narrative into the realm of fantasy, which, while playful, risks undermining the real-world validity of the central themes of community and food-sharing. On the other hand, there is much to appreciate about the watercolors from debut illustrator Eckwall, which include a close-up, gorgeous spread of soup ingredients that looks like something out of Cook’s Illustrated as well as cozy interior scenes of people gathered together juxtaposed with out-of-doors settings of their journeys to the house.
Cozy. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-770-49871-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.
Another creature is on the loose.
The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781728274300
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
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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