As contemplative and lovely as a walk in the snow.
On a quiet winter walk, two fox sisters look for a snow dragon and find magic in the natural world around them.
Miriam and Celeste meander through the glittering, silvery wonder of a snowy day. Miriam, the eldest and a self-proclaimed dragon expert, points out signs that a snow dragon is hiding in their garden. That low, rumbling noise is its roar; a snowbank is its camouflage; and the swirling pattern of frost on a greenhouse window is, in fact, frostfire. Miriam has an answer to all of Celeste’s questions: Why doesn’t the dragon leave tracks? Where does it go in the summer? Miriam also notes that dragons are sneaky and greedy and that they would love to eat Celeste. Bravely, Celeste marches off alone to confront the dragon. When she finds it, all is not quite as she expected. She returns to her sister, but now Celeste is the one armed with knowledge, and it’s Miriam’s turn to learn. The sibling relationship is sweetly authentic. Their dynamic has enough mild friction to ring true, with Miriam’s slightly know-it-all air and Celeste’s tendency to tag along and ask questions, but the sisters’ strong bond and mutual trust never waver. Whimsical illustrations feature dreamy colors and soft-focus backgrounds washed out with reflected winter light. This tale is magical anytime, but it’s a top choice when seeking a winter story that doesn’t center on a holiday.
As contemplative and lovely as a walk in the snow. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780735266988
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
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 charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn.
A young owl achieves his grand ambition.
Owl, an adorably earnest and gallant little owlet, dreams of being a knight. He imagines himself defeating dragons and winning favor far and wide through his brave exploits. When a record number of knights go missing, Owl applies to Knight School and is surprisingly accepted. He is much smaller than the other knights-in-training, struggles to wield weapons, and has “a habit of nodding off during the day.” Nevertheless, he graduates and is assigned to the Knight Night Watch. While patrolling the castle walls one night, a hungry dragon shows up and Owl must use his wits to avoid meeting a terrible end. The result is both humorous and heartwarming, offering an affirmation of courage and clear thinking no matter one’s size…and demonstrating the power of a midnight snack. The story never directly addresses the question of the missing knights, but it is hinted that they became the dragon’s fodder, leaving readers to question Owl’s decision to befriend the beast. Humor is supplied by the characters’ facial expressions and accented by the fact that Owl is the only animal in his order of big, burly human knights. Denise’s accomplished digital illustrations—many of which are full bleeds—often use a warm sepia palette that evokes a feeling of antiquity, and some spreads feature a pleasing play of chiaroscuro that creates suspense and drama.
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-31062-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
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