A sympathetic read for children adapting to not being “onlies” anymore.
A big brother reacts to his newborn sister.
A young boy excitedly dangles a favorite toy over his baby sister, plays music, and gives her a house tour. He shows his sister her crib, then peers curiously over its side. Like many children with newborn siblings, the boy hears “no” repeatedly. He acknowledges that the baby “only drinks milk” (two illustrations depict nursing) but is gently stopped when he proffers his glass. He’s told “no” when his bike’s front wheel crashes into the baby’s carriage; he gets a firm “no” when he stacks building blocks atop his sister’s forehead. But big kids say “no,” too, like when he’s asked if he likes being a big brother. He angrily retreats to his room, hastily dons T. rex pajamas, then tearfully trashes the place. Compassionate Dad carries his “big dino” to the parental bed, joined by Mom; a tiny red caption “explains” that the boy is a tyrannosaurus. Afterward, the child lovingly reassesses his sister and decides she’s really a diplodocus. This sweet tale, translated from French, deals realistically with a firstborn’s conflicted feelings when a newborn arrives. Readers may be confused when the boy dubs the infant a dinosaur, but when he identifies as a T. rex, he feels powerful and in control; thus, he regards the “smaller dino” and new situation benevolently. The simple, colorful illustrations suit the engaging, concise text well. The family is light-skinned.
A sympathetic read for children adapting to not being “onlies” anymore. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781776575725
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Gecko Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
A sweet notion that falls flat.
A hit song reimagined as a book about parental love.
Featured in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1, Perri’s “A Thousand Years” deals with the speaker’s fear of romantic love. In picture-book form, it explores a parent’s unwavering love for a child, who grows from an infant into a toddler over the course of the narrative. The caregiver expresses awe when the youngster learns to stand and fear that the child might fall while beginning to walk. “I have spent every day waiting for you,” the parent says. “Darling, don’t be afraid.” What the child might fear isn’t clear from the joyful balloon- and rainbow-filled illustrations. The story borders on cloying, and words that might work when sung and accompanied by music don’t sound fresh on the page: “Time goes by. / You grow ever stronger as you fly.” The refrain, however, is a lovely sentiment: “I have loved you for a thousand years. / I’ll love you for a thousand more.” Perri’s legion of fans may flock to this version, illustrated by Ruiz with sparkling stars, bubbles, and big-eyed toddlers, but it doesn’t hold together as a narrative or an ode, as it’s billed, and it’s a long way from the original song. The child is tan-skinned, the parent is lighter-skinned, and other characters are diverse.
A sweet notion that falls flat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622599
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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
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