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I'M RIGHT HERE

Name: I'M RIGHT HERE
Author: Constance Ørbeck-Nilssen
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5455-1

by Constance Ørbeck-Nilssen ; illustrated by Akin Duzakin ; translated by Jeanne Eirheim ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2015

A gentle and reassuring depiction of the cycle of life.

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Is it OK to be afraid?

William is afraid of many things—angry dogs, stinging wasps, dangerous fires, sharks, storms, the dark, war—but he isn’t ready to open up and talk about them until his grandmother shares her anxieties with him. Grandma is sometimes frightened, too; she worries that she’ll no longer see squirrels and blossoms, that she won’t hear birds sing. She’s afraid of dying and losing all that she loves. Dark, virtually monochromatic illustrations show William’s fears in contrast with the brightly colored depictions of what Grandma is afraid she will lose. As the two communicate and comfort each other, both gain insight; William is left with the understanding that his fears will fade as he grows up, while Grandma comes to believe that she’ll be able to see everything she loves, including William, after she dies. This may not be the right selection for every child. Its focus is on the adult’s fear rather than the child’s; the idea that the child’s fears will fade with time may not be satisfying; and those who do not ascribe to the idea of an afterlife may find it inappropriate. Still, this tale has a warm and tranquil quality that, blended with the striking and accessible illustrations, soothes and comforts like a familiar blanket.

A gentle and reassuring depiction of the cycle of life. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-8028-5455-1

Page Count: 28

Publisher: Eerdmans

Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2015

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
VANISHING COLORS
by Constance Ørbeck-Nilssen ; illustrated by Akin Duzakin ; translated by Kari Dickson

- BOOK REVIEW
WHY AM I HERE?
by Constance Ørbeck-Nilssen ; illustrated by Akin Duzakin translated by Becky Crook

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THE WORLD NEEDS THE WONDER YOU SEE

by Joanna Gaines ; illustrated by Julianna Swaney ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 28, 2025

Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children.

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Interior decorator and TV personality Gaines invites readers to open their eyes and exercise their imaginations.

There’s a world to be explored out there—and only children can really take part. What does “looking for wonder” entail? Slowing down and looking up, around, and everywhere. At the outset, a group of eager, racially diverse young friends—including one who uses a wheelchair—are fully prepared for a grand adventure. They offer tips about how and where to look: Why, there’s a “grand parade” of marching ants! And, these kids add, perspective is key. A rainy day might signal gloom to some, but to those filled with wonder, showers bring “magic puddles for play”; a forest is “an enchanted world,” the ocean conceals “a spectacular city,” and the night sky boasts “extraordinary sights.” The takeaway: “Wonder is never in short supply.” It’s a robust, empowering message, as is the exhortation to “keep your mind open, and let curiosity guide the way.” Youngsters are also advised to share their discoveries. The upbeat narrative is delivered in clunky verse, but the colorful cartoonish illustrations brimming with activity and good cheer (including some adorable anthropomorphized animals in the backgrounds) make up for the textual lapses and should motivate readers to embark on their own “wonder explorations.”

Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2025

ISBN: 9781400247417

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Tommy Nelson

Review Posted Online: yesterday

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
by Joanna Gaines ; illustrated by Julianna Swaney

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)