Vibrant illustrations highlight the beauty of the region, elevating a lackluster story.
A young Indian girl champions a green alternative to save the river from pollution.
Prema is looking forward to the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations, where idols of the elephant-headed god are venerated and submerged in the river at the end of 10-day festivities. In recent years, painted plaster statues have begun to clog the river, polluting the water. Prema knows this only too well—her mother fell sick from chemicals in the paint. Inspiration strikes when Prema realizes that she can use river clay to create a Ganesh statue. She enlists the assistance of her friends, and slowly other children help her by sourcing natural elements to add to the biodegradable statues. When it comes time for the celebrations, most people still bring traditional plaster statues to the river, but Prema’s statues are the talk of the village—and Prema has high hopes for next year. Lively illustrations feature a range of brown-skinned characters; artist Dasgupta’s note mentions that she incorporated intricate local fabric patterns and geometric art designs known as kolam from Tamil Nadu, where the protagonist lives. Prema’s community is an inclusive one, with a child who uses a crutch and a Muslim child being depicted. The problem and solution feel too pat, however, with explanatory language breaking the flow of the story. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Vibrant illustrations highlight the beauty of the region, elevating a lackluster story. (information on Ganesh Chaturthi, instructions for creating sculpting dough and making a statue, author’s note) (Picture book. 5-10)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781646869978
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Only for dedicated fans of the series.
When a kid gets the part of the ninja master in the school play, it finally seems to be the right time to tackle the closet monster.
“I spot my monster right away. / He’s practicing his ROAR. / He almost scares me half to death, / but I won’t be scared anymore!” The monster is a large, fluffy poison-green beast with blue hands and feet and face and a fluffy blue-and-green–striped tail. The kid employs a “bag of tricks” to try to catch the monster: in it are a giant wind-up shark, two cans of silly string, and an elaborate cage-and-robot trap. This last works, but with an unexpected result: the monster looks sad. Turns out he was only scaring the boy to wake him up so they could be friends. The monster greets the boy in the usual monster way: he “rips a massive FART!!” that smells like strawberries and lime, and then they go to the monster’s house to meet his parents and play. The final two spreads show the duo getting ready for bed, which is a rather anticlimactic end to what has otherwise been a rambunctious tale. Elkerton’s bright illustrations have a TV-cartoon aesthetic, and his playful beast is never scary. The narrator is depicted with black eyes and hair and pale skin. Wallace’s limping verses are uninspired at best, and the scansion and meter are frequently off.
Only for dedicated fans of the series. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-4894-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A charming illustration of childhood memories during the holiday season.
A colorful wintry tale ushers in Chinese New Year over two weeks.
In this picture book, the narrator recounts with nostalgia an observance of the traditional New Year in rural northern China. The snow-covered village bustles with activity as folks venture out to greet relatives and friends. “On the third day, uncles started giving LANTERNS” refers to an old custom in provincial Shaanxi—especially among maternal uncles. Palpable and immediate are Zhao Di’s eager anticipation and the care with which she “walk[s] through the snow with her lantern in case she slipped or the candle blew out in the wind.” Simple yet vivid close-ups depict Zhao Di and her friends, bundled head to toe and comparing lantern designs—accordion, watermelon, etc.—while braving the cold and a bunch of rowdy boys. All too soon, the 15th day arrives, signaling the end of the New Year celebrations. In a pivotal spread that shows Zhao Di sitting with her dog and chickens, readers are granted an interior view of the architecture and layout of a rustic farmhouse. In addition, the villagers’ various clothing styles, headdresses, and skin tones suggest the region’s diverse ethnicities and socio-economic landscapes. As the story concludes with the obligatory smashing and burning of the lanterns, Zhao Di comforts herself with the hopeful thought of lighting new lanterns next year.
A charming illustration of childhood memories during the holiday season. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Dec. 7, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5420-2984-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Amazon Crossing Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021
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