Encouragement abounds; originality doesn’t.
Sailing the ocean as a metaphor.
Using a rhyming text, this bolstering picture book presents life’s journey as setting sail on the unknown ocean and exploring and facing the challenges therein. There’s very little originality in the text: “Seek and you will find”; “Powerful wisdom is found in the deep”; etc. Despite—or perhaps because of—this, it all rings true. And as a book to encourage young readers to face life’s challenges and have the courage to explore, it presents its case well and does deliver unmitigated encouragement. But just as the narrative lacks originality, the illustrations have their own limiting factor, and that is their visual sameness. All are full-bleed, double-page spreads with the exception of the final page, and the palette is predominantly blues and weak browns—cool colors that visually keep readers at a distance. The diluted red color of the shorts of the protagonist (portrayed with light skin and brown hair and eyes) isn’t enough to liven up the overall coolness. A welcome exception is the two-spread sequence illustrating the treasures of the deep: Strong reds and oranges provide lively contrast to the dark background, and their warm colors are effective in bringing readers in visually. The last page, headed “Some Things To Think About,” feels like an afterthought, with a list of bromidic questions, such as, “What are you grateful for?” (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
Encouragement abounds; originality doesn’t. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-316-49548-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Dec. 24, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
A muddled message shoots for the moon but never quite gets all the way off the ground.
A little mouse experiences BIG changes thanks to a spectacular talent.
Dee’s a singer to her core. She croons absolutely everywhere, so when her teacher Miss Pink suggests that her students bring in something that symbolizes what they enjoy doing, Dee brings in a song. As she sings it, however, her joy causes her to physically grow huge! At first this makes her feel special, but as the day goes on she feels lonely and out of place. Shrinking back to her normal size, she worries that this means she can never sing again. But thanks to the encouragement of her mother and little sister, she realizes that being special is nothing to be ashamed of. However, though her classmates have skills of their own, only Dee changes, indicating that some talents are more transformative than others. After all, while everyone is enthralled by Dee, Ren the turtle’s talent for drawing a replica of a space station is something he “made everyone watch.” The true standout in this show comes from Sinquett’s dynamic art, capable of encompassing the emotional highs and lows of elementary school kids. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A muddled message shoots for the moon but never quite gets all the way off the ground. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-368-07806-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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