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
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
Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.” (Picture book. 4-8)
Bewitched by the rhythms of jazz all around her in Depression-era Kansas City, little Melba Doretta Liston longs to make music in this fictional account of a little-known jazz great.
Picking up the trombone at 7, the little girl teaches herself to play with the support of her Grandpa John and Momma Lucille, performing on the radio at 8 and touring as a pro at just 17. Both text and illustrations make it clear that it’s not all easy for Melba; “The Best Service for WHITES ONLY” reads a sign in a hotel window as the narrative describes a bigotry-plagued tour in the South with Billie Holiday. But joy carries the day, and the story ends on a high note, with Melba “dazzling audiences and making headlines” around the world. Russell-Brown’s debut text has an innate musicality, mixing judicious use of onomatopoeia with often sonorous prose. Morrison’s sinuous, exaggerated lines are the perfect match for Melba’s story; she puts her entire body into her playing, the exaggerated arch of her back and thrust of her shoulders mirroring the curves of her instrument. In one thrilling spread, the evening gown–clad instrumentalist stands over the male musicians, her slide crossing the gutter while the back bow disappears off the page to the left. An impressive discography complements a two-page afterword and a thorough bibliography.
Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.” (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-60060-898-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2014
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