Downright delicious.
“Jollof Day is my day…and IT starts early.”
On August 22—World Jollof Day—a father and child (who narrates) rise early to prepare a pot of the much-loved West African rice- and tomato-based dish. Together they scrub, chop, blitz, and stir their way through the ingredients for gravy. Finally, they add the contents of the Jar, which contains “a secret and special mix, bits of leaves, peppers, and powders.” As Daddy notes, “It’s our family’s magic.” Though the young narrator has trouble balancing the pots and pans, Daddy lets the little one help out every step of the way, and the child’s pride is apparent. The blue and purple illustrations are overtaken by a rich golden orange that swirls throughout the house, beckoning Mummy and baby brother to wake and prepare for the feast. Watching the family eating small puffs of jollof with their hands, the child marvels at everyone eating “JUST… / Like / Me.” The characters present Black, though their nationality isn’t mentioned. Mensah’s bouncy text makes lovely use of alliteration and vocabulary; though bold and readable, the type is fairly small and often feels lost against the vibrant, billowing illustrations and illustrated text that dances across the page. Still, it’s a minor point; this one will make an ideal read-aloud any day of the year. The backmatter includes a description of jollof rice, information on Jollof Day, and a recipe.
Downright delicious. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9780593406441
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2024
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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