An ultimately sunny exploration of turbulent emotions.
Today’s forecast: cloudy with a chance of tantrums.
All set to have a picnic, Penelope Weathervane—a purple-eyed, pale-skinned girl with a cumulus cloud atop her head—looks out her window to see clouds gathering. It’s going to be a Grumpy Day. Things get worse by the minute as Penelope Weathervane trips over her shoelaces and discovers she’s out of cereal. Matching the bleak sky above, her once-white cloud hair turns dark gray, and soon rain and lightning take over. As she rages, more clouds surround her, and the tears come in a torrential downpour, causing a terrible flood. The tears subside, but Penelope Weathervane still sulks as a “fog of weariness [rolls] in.” Her black cat reminds her to take deep breaths until calm returns. Penelope Weathervane cleans up the mess, and soon the sun comes out just in time for the picnic. Serafino uses stormy weather as a metaphor for a bad mood—an inspired choice—and the occasional forecast charts (which report her emotions from “cranky” to “grouchy” to “grumpy”) are a fun touch. This is both a delightfully told story and a potential vehicle to help young readers understand big emotions. Soft, watercolorlike illustrations fittingly serve the biggest emotive set piece—Penelope Weathervane’s hair cloud—whether it appears tumultuous or placid.
An ultimately sunny exploration of turbulent emotions. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 22, 2025
ISBN: 9781250350220
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.
The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.
Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780063329560
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
