A beautifully designed, poetic historical picture book.
Reese chronicles a little-known trip that Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King took to India in this children’s picture book.
In 1959, the Kings traveled from Montgomery, Alabama, to India. Martin had long been inspired by the teachings of Gandhi and the nonviolent movement he led: “Gandhi’s teachings took root in Martin’s heart, blooming strong and bright like royal sunflowers!” For more than a month, the Kings traveled through India, hoping to learn more as they toured the land where Gandhi had made such a difference; they did not expect to be greeted with cheers and treated like celebrities. Prime Minister Nehru thanked them for their freedom fighting, and college students gathered to learn about their activism. Reese’s poetic text guides readers through the wonders of the journey. The digital illustrations are based on photographs, stylizing the images to soften the edges and give them a somewhat abstract feel. The result makes the journey seem almost fantastical, a moment of magical connection. While many of the original photographs are in black and white, Reese’s design work floods the pages with colors and patterns, always complementing the text without overpowering it. Quotes from Gandhi’s teachings are peppered throughout. This historic moment of joy and celebration offers an uplifting look at two nations striving for a better future.
A beautifully designed, poetic historical picture book.Pub Date: Jan. 25, 2024
ISBN: 9798218968786
Page Count: 34
Publisher: Bea and Jo Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 28, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions.
Ellis, known for her illustrations for Colin Meloy’s Wildwood series, here riffs on the concept of “home.”
Shifting among homes mundane and speculative, contemporary and not, Ellis begins and ends with views of her own home and a peek into her studio. She highlights palaces and mansions, but she also takes readers to animal homes and a certain famously folkloric shoe (whose iconic Old Woman manages a passel of multiethnic kids absorbed in daring games). One spread showcases “some folks” who “live on the road”; a band unloads its tour bus in front of a theater marquee. Ellis’ compelling ink and gouache paintings, in a palette of blue-grays, sepia and brick red, depict scenes ranging from mythical, underwater Atlantis to a distant moonscape. Another spread, depicting a garden and large building under connected, transparent domes, invites readers to wonder: “Who in the world lives here? / And why?” (Earth is seen as a distant blue marble.) Some of Ellis’ chosen depictions, oddly juxtaposed and stripped of any historical or cultural context due to the stylized design and spare text, become stereotypical. “Some homes are boats. / Some homes are wigwams.” A sailing ship’s crew seems poised to land near a trio of men clad in breechcloths—otherwise unidentified and unremarked upon.
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6529-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2014
This humorous, lively dog’s-eye view provides gentle instruction for interacting with pets.
In Weaver’s charming picture book, a dog reassesses his not-so-glowing review of little kids.
“Families are OVERRATED!” as far as the bluish-gray hound named Dog is concerned. While he approves of the adults in the household, the four small children are for the birds. In an attempt to resolve his conflicted feelings, Dog pours his heart out to a therapist scribbling on a notepad. Dog lists his grievances via couplet rhymes: “And many times I’ve found their dirty toys INSIDE MY BOWL! / It’s obvious these little humans have no SELF-CONTROL!” With key words highlighted in colorful and bolded fonts for more emphasis, his voice now has added urgency. Soylu’s lively drawings in muted tones are wondrously effective in animating Dog; his hanging jowls, big eyes, and floppy ears all convey believably beleaguered expressions. Lifelike details enhance the dramatic effect of the children’s boisterous antics. At the end, Weaver provides a list of do’s and don’ts for interacting with pets. Dog lovers can identify the dog breed silhouettes on the endpapers. Kids will get a kick out of Dog’s opinion of humans and perhaps recognize some behaviors to reconsider.
This humorous, lively dog’s-eye view provides gentle instruction for interacting with pets.Pub Date: July 16, 2024
ISBN: 9781736267370
Page Count: 40
Publisher: A Little Offbeat Publishing
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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