A tender depiction of a loving, working-class Indian family.
The daughter of a hardworking toymaker adds a splash of color to the family business.
Asha believes that her father “makes the best wooden toys in India.” He sells the toys in the market so he can afford to send Asha to school. Papa never went to school, and he tells Asha that she must study hard in order to take advantage of the opportunities he missed—opportunities that will keep her from going hungry. Aware that her father struggles to make ends meet, she secretly enters his workshop and, in an attempt to make his wares more enticing, paints all his toys. As Asha says, “A little bit of colorful paint makes anything beautiful.” But will Papa appreciate her efforts, or will he feel that she has overstepped by focusing on her painting instead of her homework? The story’s greatest strength is the layered, loving relationship between Asha and her father, and it explains Papa’s past poverty with empathy. The conflict between the characters rings true, as does Asha’s sweet and spunky narratorial voice. While the illustrations are whimsical and vibrant, the small text is sometimes awkwardly placed and difficult to find. Nevertheless, this tale of a loving father-daughter bond is sure to delight readers of all ages. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A tender depiction of a loving, working-class Indian family. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2023
ISBN: 9781525306662
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2023
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
BOOK REVIEW
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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