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NEVER FORGET ELEANOR

A tender tribute to the heart.

An elephant never forgets—until she does.

Elijah, a young elephant, loves his grandma Eleanor. She makes everything fun, especially crossword puzzles and stories. Grandma remembers everything—faces, fancy words, and more. Elijah enjoys being introduced to everyone as he and Grandma walk around town together. He is always making new friends because of her wonderful memory. Then that all begins to change. For the first time, Eleanor starts to lose words, then stories, and then herself as she becomes lost one day. Elijah is worried until he comes up with an idea to keep his grandma from wandering. He posts memory pictures all over the neighborhood so that Grandma can always find her way. June’s portrayal of Eleanor and Elijah gently and fondly reveals the passage of time until Eleanor’s death and the inevitable “goodbye.” The sadness of Eleanor’s Alzheimer’s is secondary to the thoughtful interactions that sustain a grieving community. This day-to-day celebration of a loving relationship brings both characters vividly to life. Long’s tender gouache-and–colored pencil illustrations carry the story without ever becoming overly sentimental. The expressive features are endearing. From Elijah shyly peeking out from behind a newspaper to Grandma’s heart-rending puzzled reactions, the images evoke honest emotions. An author’s note briefly explains Alzheimer’s and its effects on families and friends. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A tender tribute to the heart. (artist’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2023

ISBN: 978-0-06-303962-9

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2022

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WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

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

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PETE THE CAT'S 12 GROOVY DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among

Pete, the cat who couldn’t care less, celebrates Christmas with his inimitable lassitude.

If it weren’t part of the title and repeated on every other page, readers unfamiliar with Pete’s shtick might have a hard time arriving at “groovy” to describe his Christmas celebration, as the expressionless cat displays not a hint of groove in Dean’s now-trademark illustrations. Nor does Pete have a great sense of scansion: “On the first day of Christmas, / Pete gave to me… / A road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” The cat is shown at the wheel of a yellow microbus strung with garland and lights and with a star-topped tree tied to its roof. On the second day of Christmas Pete gives “me” (here depicted as a gray squirrel who gets on the bus) “2 fuzzy gloves, and a road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” On the third day, he gives “me” (now a white cat who joins Pete and the squirrel) “3 yummy cupcakes,” etc. The “me” mentioned in the lyrics changes from day to day and gift to gift, with “4 far-out surfboards” (a frog), “5 onion rings” (crocodile), and “6 skateboards rolling” (a yellow bird that shares its skateboards with the white cat, the squirrel, the frog, and the crocodile while Pete drives on). Gifts and animals pile on until the microbus finally arrives at the seaside and readers are told yet again that it’s all “GROOVY!”

Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among . (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018

ISBN: 978-0-06-267527-9

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018

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