A beautiful tribute to the power of dance that is a must-read for younger aspiring ballerinas.
A nervous young girl dances her way into a more confident version of herself.
Ballet auditions can be daunting. Readers are introduced to the heroine of Peoples-Riley’s debut picture book as she stands before the imposing Dance Theater Studio doors, which loom larger than life on the page. The ballerina protagonist—a freckle-faced girl of color with a mass of tight, red curls—hunches with her arms folded, cowed by her surroundings, until she receives a much-needed intervention from her sprightly shadow-self. Posed with hands thrust confidently on her hips, the tutu-clad shadow leads the young girl on a magical dancing adventure through New York, rather like a female Peter Pan, demonstrating to readers the importance of believing in oneself. The author/illustrator makes excellent use of simple, lyrical prose and perspective to convey the heroine’s intimidation and then her growing self-confidence as she absorbs the lessons her shadow-self provides. New York City, in particular Central Park, is a wonderful supporting character in this delightful tale. Most importantly the book contains a crucial message of female empowerment that is also linked to the rigors of dance. Often ballet is chided for its ruthless treatment of women, but this story showcases its ability to instill grace and poise in the protagonist while also helping her to discover inner strength and resilience.
A beautiful tribute to the power of dance that is a must-read for younger aspiring ballerinas. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-265776-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 12, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Parents of toddlers starting school or day care should seek separation-anxiety remedies elsewhere, and fans of the original...
A sweetened, condensed version of the best-selling picture book, The Kissing Hand.
As in the original, Chester Raccoon is nervous about attending Owl’s night school (raccoons are nocturnal). His mom kisses him on the paw and reminds him, “With a Kissing Hand… / We’ll never be apart.” The text boils the story down to its key elements, causing this version to feel rushed. Gone is the list of fun things Chester will get to do at school. Fans of the original may be disappointed that this board edition uses a different illustrator. Gibson’s work is equally sentimental, but her renderings are stiff and flat in comparison to the watercolors of Harper and Leak. Very young readers will probably not understand that Owl’s tree, filled with opossums, a squirrel, a chipmunk and others, is supposed to be a school.
Parents of toddlers starting school or day care should seek separation-anxiety remedies elsewhere, and fans of the original shouldn’t look to this version as replacement for their page-worn copies. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-933718-77-4
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Tanglewood Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
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