A poetic example of Black male excellence to inspire an emerging generation of readers.
Weatherford celebrates the achievements of African American men, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Bootsy Collins.
The inspiration for this poetic offering began back in 2009, when 5-year-old Jacob Philadelphia met with then-president Barack Obama in the Oval Office. “I want to know if your hair is like mine,” said Jacob, right before President Obama bowed to allow him to touch his head—an image immortalized by photojournalist Pete Souza. An illustrated depiction of that moment appears in the book, along with scenes of other young Black children finding inspiration in a variety of role models. “I have hair like Obama’s,” the narrator tells us, “and hands like LeBron’s.” References to other recognizable and potentially lesser-known Black male inventors, athletes, artists, civic leaders, and more are threaded throughout. Writing in verse, Weatherford cleverly riffs on her subjects’ character traits and contributions, welcoming a new generation of readers to discover more about their legacies: “I think up inventions / just like the real McCoy.” “My voice is my instrument / like Trane’s sax and Bootsy’s bass.” (Backmatter explains that Weatherford is referring to engineer Elijah McCoy, jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, and funk musician Bootsy Collins.) Durr’s digital, animation-influenced illustrations brim with color as children race Usain Bolt, daydream about following in astronaut Guion Bluford’s footsteps, and more.
A poetic example of Black male excellence to inspire an emerging generation of readers. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781419771484
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
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