A religious centering amid the run-up to Christmas.
A day-by-day Advent adventure for families to share together.
Beginning on Dec. 1 with an introduction to the season of Advent and this book, and ending on Dec. 25 with just a short rhyme, Nellist’s text familiarizes children with the Christmas season and events ranging from Genesis’ “Let there be light” and Isaiah’s foretelling the birth of a baby to Mary’s visit with Elizabeth and the arrival of the Magi after Jesus’ birth (on Dec. 21 here). A rhyming verse starts each day’s entry. The meter and rhyme sometimes force the word order and choices and, in four entries, unfortunately and jarringly reflect the classic poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas.” The bulk of each page explains the Bible verse that follows the rhyme and humanizes the main characters: Joseph’s indecision about marrying a pregnant Mary, the job of a shepherd, and the treasure box of memories that Mary stored in her heart. The entry ends with a brief prayer: “Dear God, thank you for Mary who was so brave and trusted you. When I need to be brave, help me remember that you are with me.” Depending on their ages, children within a family may find some content too simple and some over their heads. Jewel-toned illustrations in luminous colors and lots of detail fill half of each spread. All the people, save the three Magi, are Middle Eastern in skin color, facial features, and dress. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A religious centering amid the run-up to Christmas. (Religion. 4-10)Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-310-73415-4
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Review Posted Online: Aug. 10, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A good-enough introduction to a contested festivity but one that’s not in step with the community it’s for.
An overview of the modern African-American holiday.
This book arrives at a time when black people in the United States have had intraracial—some serious, some snarky—conversations about Kwanzaa’s relevance nowadays, from its patchwork inspiration that flattens the cultural diversity of the African continent to a single festive story to, relatedly, the earnest blacker-than-thou pretentiousness surrounding it. Both the author and consultant Keith A. Mayes take great pains—and in painfully simplistic language—to provide a context that attempts to refute the internal arguments as much as it informs its intended audience. In fact, Mayes says in the endnotes that young people are Kwanzaa’s “largest audience and most important constituents” and further extends an invitation to all races and ages to join the winter celebration. However, his “young people represent the future” counterpoint—and the book itself—really responds to an echo of an argument, as black communities have moved the conversation out to listen to African communities who critique the holiday’s loose “African-ness” and deep American-ness and moved on to commemorate holidays that have a more historical base in black people’s experiences in the United States, such as Juneteenth. In this context, the explications of Kwanzaa’s principles and symbols and the smattering of accompanying activities feel out of touch.
A good-enough introduction to a contested festivity but one that’s not in step with the community it’s for. (resources, bibliography, glossary, afterword) (Nonfiction. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4263-2849-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: National Geographic Kids
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2017
Pass.
The traditions and history of one of Mexico’s most important holidays are introduced in this latest of Eliot’s Celebrate the World series.
From setting up the flower-festooned altars to decorating the calaveras, the preparations depicted involve entire communities over several weeks. Characters in cowboy hats, sombreros, and baseball caps place the final touches on skeletons in full lucha libre regalia or spangled mariachi outfits. However, instead of accurately using Mexico’s name for the holiday, Día de Muertos, Eliot uses the English back-translation, “Día de los Muertos,” as is common in the U.S. even though the story evidently takes place in Mexico. Also, aside from stating that the celebration “is an ancient tradition,” there is no mention of its Indigenous, pre-European/Christian roots nor does the book actively distinguish between Día de Muertos and Halloween. The first-person narration vacillates between child and adult perspectives. “We do all this to celebrate the beauty of life and death rather than mourn it.” Gutierrez’s mixed-media illustrations are convulsive, crowded panes of frenetic activity. Exaggerated facial features border on stereotypical caricatures—snouts and bug eyes abound. Contributing to the crowded page design is the unfortunate choice of board rather than picture-book format. Consequently, the initial perception is that this series is geared toward toddlers, when it is the school-age child who would most benefit from the information in this book.
Pass. (Board book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 24, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5344-1515-7
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019
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