A tongue-in-cheek masterpiece echoing most parents’ outings with small children.
A young boy narrates a trip to the zoo with Dad, but who’s the kid and who’s the adult?
Readers get their first clue that this isn’t a standard parent-child picture book on the opening spread. No people are visible, but a Victrola’s horn sneaks through a door, startling the dog (and maybe readers) with a blaring: “everybody up! I want to go to the ZOO!” From then, it’s constant motion, the father doing his best galloping-camel imitation all the way to the zoo, his still-sleepy (and pajama-clad) son hanging on for dear life. By the third spread, readers will know that the roles of father and child are reversed. The longer the two wait in line for tickets, “the more ideas [Dad] has about how to cut the line.” Dad races around the enclosures with the boy lagging behind before having a meltdown over ice cream; these behaviors—and the child’s desperate attempts to distract Dad—will be quite familiar (and hysterical) to parents of small children. There’s even the final, most terrible ordeal: the gift shop! “The galloping camel has turned into a sluggish snail. And me? I’m wiped out.” Di Giacomo’s naively done illustrations in muted earth tones are quite unlike what’s normally found in bright, splashy picture books, but they fit this one perfectly, playing up the humor of a Dad who just can’t be still.
A tongue-in-cheek masterpiece echoing most parents’ outings with small children. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 7, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-59270-190-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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
BOOK REVIEW
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