A good bridge to take children from comic tropes to fine art.
Using his love of art to honor his grandmother, a boy fumbles with his first plan but succeeds with his second.
Weekly art class at a museum (clearly the Metropolitan Museum of Art) is exciting. The teacher’s assertion that “anything can be in an art exhibition”—toys, hair clips, water bottles—is followed by a brainstorming session among the kids of art’s traits. Is it beautiful, funny or unique? Does it come from afar or make people “feel good”? This inspires an unusual idea. The protagonist’s grandmother possesses all those traits, so “I should give Grandma to the museum!” This odd inspiration doesn’t quite make sense: The boy’s too fond of his grandma to want her gone and too old to genuinely think humans are donate-able, but it doesn’t read like a joke. Luckily, the museum nixes it, and the boy moves on. He creates an entire mixed-media art exhibit under his own steam, each piece a portrayal of Grandma in a different artistic style. Bliss uses pen, ink and watercolor to mix affectionate figure drawings and re-creations of famous artwork with speech bubbles and faces straight from the comics (including some eyebrows that don’t quite fit). Though lacking the visceral joie de vivre of Angela Johnson and E.B. Lewis’ Lily Brown’s Paintings (2007), this helps fill a critical need for art-loving black child characters.
A good bridge to take children from comic tropes to fine art. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 14, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4197-1484-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
Affectionate and affirming.
Today co-anchor Melvin pens an ode to the father-son bond.
A dad lists all the things he admires about his son, including the boy’s willingness to face his fears (such as diving into the swimming pool) and his ability to “make people laugh, / bring joy to folks.” The child shows “kindness and grace” when apologizing for a mistake, and he perseveres in the face of failure (“They can’t all be wins”). The boy has an inquisitive mind (“You ask questions and investigate. / Who knows what you’ll find?”), and he’s a caring big brother who loves building sand castles with his younger sibling. Ultimately, the father salutes his son for the person he is “through good times and bad, / no matter what.” Melvin conveys the joy of watching a child grow into a strong, capable adult while maintaining a sense of childlike wonder. Rather than focusing on traditionally masculine activities or attitudes, he celebrates qualities such as emotional intelligence and a nurturing spirit. While the text on occasion dips into sentimentality, overall Melvin delivers a sound message. Cloud’s digital illustrations depict the family and their diverse community with expressive faces, capturing their myriad emotions and lending the book an exuberant tone. The father presents Black, his partner appears white, and the tan-skinned children are biracial; all are unnamed.
Affectionate and affirming. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9780063206137
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
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