Deliciously educational.
Not since series opener Yummy (2021) has learning science and history looked this delicious.
Food sprites Peri, Fee, Fada, and Naia inform and entertain readers as they explore the origins and uses of well-loved foods and ingredients, each of which has its own chapter: cheese, pizza, pickles, soda, processed foods, and gelatin. Peri mostly takes the lead, with Naia assisting when she needs backup. Fee and Fada take a more supportive role in acting out scenes and asking questions to help push the narrative along. In segments labeled “Story Time,” the cast acts out colorful and intriguing food origin legends, following up with the actual historical facts. The foods’ histories and origins are explained, along with how they have evolved through time and across different cultures. Labeled maps show readers where the food items originated and where different versions can be found. For example, “The Abridged Atlas of Pickle History” contains 20 varieties, from Korean kimchi and European pickled herring to ceviche and other pickles of the Americas. The appealing recipes are clearly explained with diagrams but are somewhat involved and will likely require adult assistance. Charming, colorful illustrations and adorable sprites (who have a range of skin tones) keep things interesting. Enough detail is provided to keep the text informative without becoming overly complicated or overwhelming.
Deliciously educational. (bibliography, drawing guide, profiles of food sprites) (Graphic nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Dec. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9780593425329
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 22, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Cathartic proof that childhood provides lessons for a lifetime and that change is possible.
From the day baby Daniel arrives, crying so loudly that it hurts Charise’s ears and absorbing her mother’s attention, Charise starts growing into her role of bad sister.
The popular children’s author highlights rough-and-tumble episodes from their childhoods that scar her and her brother, literally and figuratively. Charise plays wildly, tricks her little brother, and enjoys her power. Often Daniel gets hurt, and her parents insist she should know better. The selected stories and details shared here reveal volumes about the family’s dynamics. The siblings’ escalating antics are captured in clean, colorful panels that often end with moving illustrations in moody blues conveying Charise’s isolation, frustration, and guilt. Readers will relate to the rivalry, ambivalent feelings, and raw honesty—and they, unlike Charise’s parents, will see the full picture: It takes two to tango; sometimes four, counting their parents’ roles in exacerbating everything. As Daniel grows and Charise matures, the dynamic changes as well. Charise admires Daniel’s social skills which she feels she cannot match, partly due to her undiagnosed prosopagnosia, or face blindness. Over time she begins to treat Daniel better, especially after reaching a turning point when she clearly sees the lasting consequences of her behavior. By the end, they become partners, with the power to forgive. This is a powerful story of growth, self-awareness, and genuine insight into family relationships. Most characters read as White.
Cathartic proof that childhood provides lessons for a lifetime and that change is possible. (Graphic memoir. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 14, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-21906-0
Page Count: 240
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2021
PERSPECTIVES
A loving tribute to la causa.
A look at Cesar Chavez’s role in the Delano grape strike highlights the fight for farm workers’ rights in California.
A short introductory passage peppers in facts about Chavez’s life: birth, childhood, influences, co-founding of the National Farm Workers Association. Then the story begins, slipping readers into an NFWA meeting where fellow organizers Roberto Bustos and Dolores Huerta muse about the current state of the strike—its momentum and challenges. Enter Cesar Chavez with a dreamer’s idea: a 300-mile march from Delano to Sacramento through small towns and farms “to get more farmworkers to join their cause.” From there, it’s a quick overview of the preparations and the march itself, with few drawbacks (a run-in with an antagonistic sheriff presents a clear and concise image of the movement’s adversaries) and a whole lot of joyous sloganeering (“¡Huelga! ¡Huelga!”), appearances of vital figures (including Luis Valdez in a memorable sequence), and celebratory triumphs (the march’s staggering growth in numbers). In this latest installment of the Who HQ graphic novel series, community strength is represented as the key to social change. Though this depiction of Chavez often veers into saintlike reverence, the colorful artwork overall offers a resplendent portrayal of a pivotal moment in the yearslong strike. Fun characterizations (a shrewd Dolores Huerta is a gem) and one-page interjections of background context round up a solid yet glossy retelling.
A loving tribute to la causa. (timeline, bibliography) (Graphic historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 12, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-22450-2
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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