An intriguing, refreshingly original Yuletide tale.
A beloved, witchlike figure from Italian Christmas folklore pens a letter to children.
Befana has taken on a variety of roles, from searching for the Christ Child to giving gifts on the Epiphany. Here, she writes a missive to children, preparing them for her visit on the eve of January 6, a night that “hangs motionless between the final sigh of the holidays and the return to daily life.” She’s frank: “I am both benevolent and fearsome.” In a withering voice, she makes clear that she has “nothing to do with that clumsy oaf dressed in red with his herd of reindeer.” She implores readers to “examine [their] conscience,” and she adopts a schoolmarmish voice, directing them to hang their stockings properly; good children will receive sweets, while naughty ones will find coal in their stockings. Befana dishes secrets, too, like how she becomes invisible after sipping “a soup of mandrake, limpets, and giant salamanders.” Most importantly, though, she explains that with her annual visit, she brings the gift of spring and new beginnings—“gifts that are not measured in money, to which humans are attached like leeches.” Translated from Italian, Cuoghi’s poetically pleasurable narrative can be verbose, but Beretta’s shimmering gouache images surround those words with a charming, vintage cinematic feel. Four delightful pages of backmatter delve into Befana lore and other winter-witch traditions. Befana is pink-skinned; background characters are diverse.
An intriguing, refreshingly original Yuletide tale. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2024
ISBN: 9781778401466
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Greystone Kids
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
A charming illustration of childhood memories during the holiday season.
A colorful wintry tale ushers in Chinese New Year over two weeks.
In this picture book, the narrator recounts with nostalgia an observance of the traditional New Year in rural northern China. The snow-covered village bustles with activity as folks venture out to greet relatives and friends. “On the third day, uncles started giving LANTERNS” refers to an old custom in provincial Shaanxi—especially among maternal uncles. Palpable and immediate are Zhao Di’s eager anticipation and the care with which she “walk[s] through the snow with her lantern in case she slipped or the candle blew out in the wind.” Simple yet vivid close-ups depict Zhao Di and her friends, bundled head to toe and comparing lantern designs—accordion, watermelon, etc.—while braving the cold and a bunch of rowdy boys. All too soon, the 15th day arrives, signaling the end of the New Year celebrations. In a pivotal spread that shows Zhao Di sitting with her dog and chickens, readers are granted an interior view of the architecture and layout of a rustic farmhouse. In addition, the villagers’ various clothing styles, headdresses, and skin tones suggest the region’s diverse ethnicities and socio-economic landscapes. As the story concludes with the obligatory smashing and burning of the lanterns, Zhao Di comforts herself with the hopeful thought of lighting new lanterns next year.
A charming illustration of childhood memories during the holiday season. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Dec. 7, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5420-2984-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Amazon Crossing Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021
Sugary uplift, shrink-wrapped for the masses.
An elusive new quarry leads the How To Catch… kids on a merry chase through a natural history museum.
Taking at least a step away from the “hunters versus prey” vibe of previous entries in the popular series, the racially diverse group of young visitors dashes through various museum halls in pursuit of the eponymous dino—whose quest to “spread kindness and joy ’round the world” takes the form of a mildly tumultuous museum tour. In most of Elkerton’s overly sweet, color-saturated scenes, only portions of the Loveosaurus, who is purple and covered with pink hearts, are visible behind exhibits or lumbering off the page. But the children find small enticements left behind, from craft supplies to make cards for endangered species to pictures of smiley faces, candy heart–style personal notes (“You Rock!” “Give Hugs”), and, in the hall of medieval arms and armor, a sign urging them to “Be Honest Be Kind.” The somewhat heavy-handed lesson comes through loud and clear. “There’s a message, he wants us to think,” hints Walstead to clue in more obtuse readers…and concluding scenes of smiling people young and otherwise exchanging hugs and knuckle bumps, holding doors for a wheelchair rider, and dancing through clouds of sparkles indicate that they, at least, have gotten it. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Sugary uplift, shrink-wrapped for the masses. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 9781728268781
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 17, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2023
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