A distinctive take on the immigrant experience that suffers upon execution.
New to the country, a boy finds solace in friendship.
Jae, a boy cued as Asian, moves into a new apartment with his mother. Bored, lonely, and worried about not knowing words, he meets Rosa, a tan-skinned girl of boundless energy who goes everywhere with her pet parrot, Pollito, on her shoulder. Not only does Rosa’s vivid imagination take Jae back to his home, where the mountains were in view and the streets were full of vendors, she also whisks them to the rainforest of Rosa’s homeland to find llamas and “golden Inca treasures.” She and Pollito sing a song: “When I fly away, my heart stays here.” One morning, Jae wakes to discover that Rosa’s family has moved. “They had to leave quickly. They didn’t have a choice,” Jae’s mother explains to the heartbroken boy. But after a good cry, there is a knock on the door: Two brown-skinned kids stand in the hallway, ready to find a friend. This is a familiar narrative of finding a new home while honoring one’s past home, with the unique angle of addressing the transient nature of immigrants and apartment dwellers in general. However, Campion’s digital illustrations offer little nuance, depicting the children with expressive faces but leaving everything else crudely drawn. Combined with text that flows awkwardly in places, the message loses some impact. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A distinctive take on the immigrant experience that suffers upon execution. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 7, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-37549-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House Studio
Review Posted Online: March 29, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2022
An affirming, though lackluster, look at a loving queer family.
For his debut picture book, teacher and activist Chasten Buttigieg draws inspiration from life with husband Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. transportation secretary.
The big day has finally arrived! Rosie and Jojo have been counting down the days until Papa comes home from his work trip. With a little help from Daddy, they make “welcome home” signs to greet Papa at the airport, pick flowers from the garden, and bake a “seven-layer chocolate cake with purple and yellow frosting.” Much to Daddy’s bemusement, the kids gather all of Papa’s favorite things, including his robe and slippers and their adorable pooch, Butter, as they walk out the door to pick up Papa from his travels. The author offers an affectionate portrait of the everyday domestic life of a same-sex family unit. While many kids and adults will be pleased to see their experiences reflected on the page, both the choppy writing and the flat digital artwork are fairly bland. Characters display similarly excited facial expressions throughout, while the portrayal of the children borders on overly cutesy at times, with intentionally misspelled signs throughout the house (“Papa’s Very Spechull Garden. Please do not tutch”). Like the author’s actual children, Rosie and Jojo are brown-skinned, while Daddy and Papa present white.
An affirming, though lackluster, look at a loving queer family. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN: 9780593693988
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
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
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