Massively cute, but not cloying, with an ever timely message.
A tender affirmation of the permanence of the parent-child bond.
Fuge follows Sam McBratney’s strategy in Guess How Much I Love You (1994) in leaving both the genders and the actual relationship between the large and small companions he conjures unspecified, so any number of situations could be mapped onto this lyrical expression of inseparability. One thing is sure—Fuge remains unexcelled in depicting animal figures of extreme, relentless adorability. Here a pair of anthropomorphic polar bears (with a certain amount of koala DNA visible in their big, shiny black noses and outsized fuzzy ears) frolics on two legs through snowy Arctic settings to undulating lines of rhymed reassurance: “We often imagine faraway lands, / with parrots and palm trees / and warm golden sands. / But then we agree that / we don’t need that stuff…. / Just being together is / more than enough!” (Fuge takes the opportunity of the reference to parrots and palm trees to imagine a tropical scene, adding a bit of warmth to the generally icy blues and whites of the cartoon spreads.) The day, spent alone aside from a few cameos by birds and other small creatures, ends in a cozy ice cave with smooches literal and figurative: “ ‘Together!’ you say, as we cuddle up tight. / ‘Forever,’ I whisper, and kiss you goodnight.” (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.4-by-20.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 75% of actual size.)
Massively cute, but not cloying, with an ever timely message. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Dec. 22, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-30388-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2020
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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
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