A pedal-powered primer that will surely inspire riders old and new.
Various riders use a bike-sharing program to pedal around Seattle.
On Bike’s first morning on the job as a Beep Beep Bicycle, she worries that no one will want to ride her or that she’ll struggle going uphill. A friendly older bicycle offers words of encouragement. After Jenkins briefly explains how Beep Beep Bicycles work (riders pay via app, use a bike, then leave it on another rack), Bike’s very first rider hops on and—“Zoom!”—off they go. When they arrive, the rider thanks Bike and heads to a shift at the bakery. After two more riders, it begins to rain and business slows, but once the weather clears, more riders team up with Bike to get around the city. Just as she feared, Bike does indeed struggle to make it up a big hill, but all in all, it’s a great first day of riding! Jenkins and Karas’ collaboration is a strikingly original narrative concept book about bike-sharing programs. The riders are diverse in skin tone and occupation, driving home that this service is truly for everyone. The anthropomorphic character design adds a dash of friendliness and kid appeal to these otherwise industrial bicycles. Karas’ appropriately muted art showcases many familiar Seattle landmarks. Despite the specificity of the setting, the concepts will easily translate to any city with a bike-sharing program—especially if they involve any hills. Tips for safe biking are appended.
A pedal-powered primer that will surely inspire riders old and new. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 18, 2024
ISBN: 9780316340175
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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
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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