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YOU KNOW WHAT?

Name: YOU KNOW WHAT?
Author: Carol Gordon Ekster
ISBN: 978-1-60537-278-5

by Carol Gordon Ekster ; illustrated by Nynke Mare Talsma ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2017

A good-night book that needs a bit more oomph in its ending in order to put it to bed.

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A loquacious child's chatter delays bedtime in this picture book from a Belgian publisher but by an American author.

It’s bedtime, but Oliver has a lot to say to his mother during his nighttime routine, starting at the very beginning when he says, “Mommy, you know what?...When I don’t flush the toilet, it smells stinky.” Mommy didn’t need this newsflash—she’s plugging her nose and pointing to the toilet and its stinky contents as she replies “Yes, I know.” This and the ensuing text is conveyed entirely in dialogue between mother and son, who appear to be of different races since Mommy has light skin and reddish-brown hair, while Oliver has darker skin and hair. None of his “You know what?” statements are particularly revelatory, rendering the text a slice-of-life depiction of one child’s bedtime routine. The ending is rushed, as a haggard Mommy looks at readers while hearing a final “Mommy! You know what?” The resolution to this final call comes, not with concluding text, but with a page turn to the endpapers showing Oliver fast asleep. While this provides a visual conclusion, the preceding text in its large type sets readers up for more. Readers will enjoy watching Oliver’s green toy T. Rex, which falls asleep along with him.

A good-night book that needs a bit more oomph in its ending in order to put it to bed. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-60537-278-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Clavis

Review Posted Online: July 16, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
SOME DADDIES
by Carol Gordon Ekster ; illustrated by Javiera Maclean Álvarez

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE'S A BEACH IN MY BEDROOM
by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson

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YOUR BABY'S FIRST WORD WILL BE DADA

by Jimmy Fallon ; illustrated by Miguel Ordóñez ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2015

Plotless and pointless, the book clearly exists only because its celebrity author wrote it.

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A succession of animal dads do their best to teach their young to say “Dada” in this picture-book vehicle for Fallon.

A grumpy bull says, “DADA!”; his calf moos back. A sad-looking ram insists, “DADA!”; his lamb baas back. A duck, a bee, a dog, a rabbit, a cat, a mouse, a donkey, a pig, a frog, a rooster, and a horse all fail similarly, spread by spread. A final two-spread sequence finds all of the animals arrayed across the pages, dads on the verso and children on the recto. All the text prior to this point has been either iterations of “Dada” or animal sounds in dialogue bubbles; here, narrative text states, “Now everybody get in line, let’s say it together one more time….” Upon the turn of the page, the animal dads gaze round-eyed as their young across the gutter all cry, “DADA!” (except the duckling, who says, “quack”). Ordóñez's illustrations have a bland, digital look, compositions hardly varying with the characters, although the pastel-colored backgrounds change. The punch line fails from a design standpoint, as the sudden, single-bubble chorus of “DADA” appears to be emanating from background features rather than the baby animals’ mouths (only some of which, on close inspection, appear to be open). It also fails to be funny.

Plotless and pointless, the book clearly exists only because its celebrity author wrote it. (Picture book. 3-5)