A unique incorporation of Chinese language into a hilarious rhyming romp.
Irrepressible Marcy Su tries to clean up for Wàipó and Wàigōng’s visit but creates an even bigger mess in the process.
Marcy Su, who’s Chinese American, “[can’t] help but make messes, / track mud on the floor and get stains on her dresses.” In rhyming couplets, her harried mother entreats her to put on clean clothes and tidy her room before Marcy’s grandparents arrive. After an effortlessly expressive watercolor-and-pencil scene depicting a forlorn Marcy looking at the explosion of mess around her room, she vows to do even morethan has been asked of her. And thus, the comedic stage is set. Meter and rhyme propel both text and story with perfect timing as Marcy runs the laundry, vacuums, and takes a bath, each task creating double the chaos in her oblivious wake. Every so often, a romanized Mandarin phrase is embedded without comment, fitting into the cadence or rhyme seamlessly. (Pronunciation guides and a glossary are included in the backmatter.) While Mandarin speakers will be pleased to see a familiar language, its incorporation into the text is not patterned. The vocabulary ranges from everyday words like grandmotherand grandfatherto flower vaseto the feeling of being pleased with oneself. The haphazard nature of Mandarin inclusion is delightful yet potentially puzzling, but the farcical conclusion is marvelously and universally satisfying.
A unique incorporation of Chinese language into a hilarious rhyming romp. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Nov. 30, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5609-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.
Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250393975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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