The classic child’s game of follow-the-leader springs to life in a convivial tale of sibling play. Inside on a snowy day, two brothers frolic through the house, letting their imaginations soar as they enact the creative commands of the eldest. Together they hop about imitating various animals, do handstands, twirl, juggle imaginary objects, and much more. Silverman’s (Raisel’s Riddle, 1999, etc.) bouncy rhymes capture the energy of the siblings as they bound through the game. “Climb up the jungle gym. Dangle. Then jump. Sit on a swing and pump, pump, pump, pump!” She adeptly conveys the nuances of sibling relationships and rivalry—from the preemptory tone of the older brother to the younger one’s attempts at independence. Underneath the play is a message about taking turns—with the older brother eventually, gracefully conceding his leader status to his younger sibling. The illustrations of the round-headed brothers have an appealing cartoon-like quality to them and are a perfect venue for the humorous tale. Karas’s (High-Rise Private Eyes, p. 964, etc.) vivacious, full-color drawings combine the twosome’s flights of fancy with their pragmatic, homemade props—e.g., a trio of stuffed animals becomes a circus menagerie, and a white polka-dot quilt transforms a hodgepodge pile of objects into a snow-covered ski slope. The possibilities are limitless in this imaginative romp, which will have readers eagerly anticipating their own follow-the-leader adventures. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2000
ISBN: 0-374-32423-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2000
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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