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COLORS

Name: COLORS
Author: Jenna Kurtzweil
ISBN: 978-1-4867-1464-3

by Jenna Kurtzweil ; illustrated by David Rodriguez Lorenzo ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 2, 2018

While colorfully executed, this conveys a message about colors that not every youngster may get.

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Colors beautify the world.

“When long ago the world was young and everything was new,” things were bleak and needed prettying up. As told through this creation (rather than concept) tale and narrated via rhyme that is more enthusiastic than it is graceful, a red-haired, white male maestro leads a team of enthusiastic paints in jars in tackling that job. And go at the world with gusto the colors do, each taking on natural topographical features, foods, heavenly bodies, plants, and animals and imbuing them with their now-familiar hues. Some things remain colorless, however—to prepare humankind for the appearance of gorgeous rainbows and a powerful message: All colors are beautiful, bring unity, and “we find our best selves there.” Nice point, though the story takes a meandering time reaching it. The child-appealing illustrations are energetic but pose their own challenges. The book’s child characters are racially diverse, but two apparently Asian characters display unfortunate stereotypes, as they usually appear with closed eyes. Moreover, the male, who seems to represent a Pacific Islander, is portrayed as rotund, with yellowish-brown skin, wears an animal-tooth necklace and a loincloth, and brandishes flaming torches. Some readers may also note the odd portrayal of the (literal) leader of the paints: Why is he depicted as a musical conductor and not an artist?

While colorfully executed, this conveys a message about colors that not every youngster may get. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-4867-1464-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Flowerpot Press

Review Posted Online: July 23, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S POETRY

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DIGGER, DOZER, DUMPER

by Hope Vestergaard ; illustrated by David Slonim ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 27, 2013

While there are many rhyming truck books out there, this stands out for being a collection of poems.

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Rhyming poems introduce children to anthropomorphized trucks of all sorts, as well as the jobs that they do.

Adorable multiethnic children are the drivers of these 16 trucks—from construction equipment to city trucks, rescue vehicles and a semi—easily standing in for readers, a point made very clear on the final spread. Varying rhyme schemes and poem lengths help keep readers’ attention. For the most part, the rhymes and rhythms work, as in this, from “Cement Mixer”: “No time to wait; / he can’t sit still. / He has to beg your pardon. / For if he dawdles on the way, / his slushy load will harden.” Slonim’s trucks each sport an expressive pair of eyes, but the anthropomorphism stops there, at least in the pictures—Vestergaard sometimes takes it too far, as in “Bulldozer”: “He’s not a bully, either, / although he’s big and tough. / He waits his turn, plays well with friends, / and pushes just enough.” A few trucks’ jobs get short shrift, to mixed effect: “Skid-Steer Loader” focuses on how this truck moves without the typical steering wheel, but “Semi” runs with a royalty analogy and fails to truly impart any knowledge. The acrylic-and-charcoal artwork, set against white backgrounds, keeps the focus on the trucks and the jobs they are doing.

While there are many rhyming truck books out there, this stands out for being a collection of poems. (Picture book/poetry. 3-6)

Pub Date: Aug. 27, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-7636-5078-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: May 28, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2013

Categories:

CHILDREN'S POETRY | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

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POTTY ANIMALS
by Hope Vestergaard and illustrated by Valeria Petrone

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I DON’T WANT TO CLEAN MY ROOM
by Hope Vestergaard & illustrated by Carol Koeller

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WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN A MONSTER SAYS BOO?
by Hope Vestergaard & illustrated by Maggie Smith

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AMOR IS TO LOVE YOU

From the Canticos series

by Susie Jaramillo ; illustrated by Susie Jaramillo ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 8, 2022

A testament to the universality of love.

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An expanded explanation of love in both English and Spanish.

Several animal personalities pose the question, “What is love?” and in a series of lift-the-flap responses present various emotional scenarios. Little Elephant asks Spider, “Is it the joy of having you around?” Spider asks, “Is it the way you lift me when I’m down?” Each page corresponds to a flap that reveals one of a multitude of feelings love can evoke in either an English or Spanish rhyme, which are not direct translations of each other. An interspersed refrain notes, “Amor for the Spanish, / and love en inglés. / Love in any language / always means the same.” A palette of pastels and purple and pink hues dominate as hearts abound on each page, surrounding the characters, who are adorable though on the overly sweet side. The characters are from the bilingual preschool series Canticos, though it will work even among those without knowledge of the show. Children more fluent in Spanish will be better able to appreciate this, and those familiar with the show will recognize the signature characters, including “Los Pollitos” (Little Chickies). (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A testament to the universality of love. (Board book. 3-6)