A sweet story that brings connections and food traditions to a satisfying full circle.
Millie and Laolao love to cook dumplings together, but one day Laolao can’t make them anymore.
Millie, a child with straight black hair and tawny skin, is dropped off at Laolao’s (Mandarin Chinese for grandmother) by Mama, who is Chinese, and brown-skinned Papi. Millie suggests they make dumplings, so the two head to Chinatown for ingredients. Laolao knows everyone there, and all the “aunties” and “uncles,” though not related to Millie or Laolao, feel like family. Millie spends the summer visiting Laolao, but Laolao is slowing down. One day, Laolao is too tired to make dumplings. The two spend the fall snuggling by the window, and by winter, Millie’s parents are bringing Laolao’s meals to her. They’re good, but everyone misses Laolao’s dumplings. Millie has an idea, and Mama, Papi, and Millie head to Chinatown. There, all of Laolao’s friends express their concern, sending best wishes and special ingredients back with the family. Then it’s Millie, Mama, and Papi who get to work in the kitchen, a new generation of dumpling-makers creating delicious memories to share with Laolao. Moon’s digital art incorporates bright colors inside black outlines, reminiscent of graphic novels. Varied layouts and compositions create visual interest, albeit sometimes at the expense of consistency. The realistic scenes full of detail most strongly convey the strength of community and family.
A sweet story that brings connections and food traditions to a satisfying full circle. (recipe for dumplings) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Dec. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781250778192
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Godwin Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet notion that falls flat.
A hit song reimagined as a book about parental love.
Featured in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1, Perri’s “A Thousand Years” deals with the speaker’s fear of romantic love. In picture-book form, it explores a parent’s unwavering love for a child, who grows from an infant into a toddler over the course of the narrative. The caregiver expresses awe when the youngster learns to stand and fear that the child might fall while beginning to walk. “I have spent every day waiting for you,” the parent says. “Darling, don’t be afraid.” What the child might fear isn’t clear from the joyful balloon- and rainbow-filled illustrations. The story borders on cloying, and words that might work when sung and accompanied by music don’t sound fresh on the page: “Time goes by. / You grow ever stronger as you fly.” The refrain, however, is a lovely sentiment: “I have loved you for a thousand years. / I’ll love you for a thousand more.” Perri’s legion of fans may flock to this version, illustrated by Ruiz with sparkling stars, bubbles, and big-eyed toddlers, but it doesn’t hold together as a narrative or an ode, as it’s billed, and it’s a long way from the original song. The child is tan-skinned, the parent is lighter-skinned, and other characters are diverse.
A sweet notion that falls flat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622599
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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