In this warm, gentle tale, everyday activities take on a special meaning during a summer island vacation.
A treasured family visit brings joy to a child and their grandfather.
The child and their mother set sail on a long voyage; they see mountains, boats, and humpback whales before they finally arrive at a distant, rural island. Moose graze, puffins congregate, and, best of all, Poppy greets them. As the child’s mother waves goodbye, Poppy embraces the happy child. The protagonist watches, and sometimes lends a helping hand, as Poppy goes about his daily chores, which involve food preparation and gathering. They explore the island, counting masts, cod, and sea waves. Each evening brings a cozy reading time. Alas, the visit comes to an end—until next year. Courtney, who references summers in Newfoundland on the book’s dedication page, has written a loving ode to a special family relationship and locale. The details may not be familiar to all readers, but the strong feelings of love and companionship will resonate. The earth-toned illustrations, rendered in colored pencil and gouache and finished digitally, are a fitting match for the flora and fauna depicted. A lovely quilt design on the endpapers beautifully captures the local birds, beasts, greenery, and buildings. The child, their mother, and their grandfather are light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
In this warm, gentle tale, everyday activities take on a special meaning during a summer island vacation. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 12, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1152-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Walker US/Candlewick
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
A sweet notion that falls flat.
A hit song reimagined as a book about parental love.
Featured in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1, Perri’s “A Thousand Years” deals with the speaker’s fear of romantic love. In picture-book form, it explores a parent’s unwavering love for a child, who grows from an infant into a toddler over the course of the narrative. The caregiver expresses awe when the youngster learns to stand and fear that the child might fall while beginning to walk. “I have spent every day waiting for you,” the parent says. “Darling, don’t be afraid.” What the child might fear isn’t clear from the joyful balloon- and rainbow-filled illustrations. The story borders on cloying, and words that might work when sung and accompanied by music don’t sound fresh on the page: “Time goes by. / You grow ever stronger as you fly.” The refrain, however, is a lovely sentiment: “I have loved you for a thousand years. / I’ll love you for a thousand more.” Perri’s legion of fans may flock to this version, illustrated by Ruiz with sparkling stars, bubbles, and big-eyed toddlers, but it doesn’t hold together as a narrative or an ode, as it’s billed, and it’s a long way from the original song. The child is tan-skinned, the parent is lighter-skinned, and other characters are diverse.
A sweet notion that falls flat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622599
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
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