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HELLO COCO!

SUDS, SONGS, AND AUNT FANCY’S SALAD

A bright, engaging kids’ story about a family dinner.

Awards & Accolades

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A young girl learns the importance of good hygiene and nutrition in McGlothin’s illustrated book for children.

Coco is a lively, precocious girl who loves cooking with her favorite aunt, Fancy. As the story opens, members of Coco’s extended family are starting to gather at her house for a big dinner, and Fancy has promised to help the little girl make the salad. The two set to work, but not before washing their hands; Fancy sings a new song to help them remember to do so, which includes the lyrics “Wash my hands; washing my hands / Wash, wash, wash, wash.” After a dance break, Coco and Fancy assemble ingredients and prepare the salad, which includes “lettuce, tomatoes, green onions, cucumbers, lemons, olives, and red and yellow peppers.” Along the way, Fancy and Coco chop vegetables safely, and Fancy stresses the importance of making just enough food for everyone. Coco’s big brother, Evan, appears in the kitchen, wanting a few slices of cucumber, but Coco reminds him to wash his hands, too—providing another opportunity to sing the hand-washing song. Soon, the whole family enjoys the big meal—especially Coco’s salad. McGlothin presents an upbeat and entertaining new addition to the pantheon of stories about little girls with big energy. Garcia’s colorful, contemporary illustrations, which feature a large Black family, will appeal to young readers, and the hand-washing song makes this book a welcome addition to storytimes about food, hygiene, and family. Kids will enjoy learning about the fresh produce that Coco uses for her salad and have fun counting Coco’s family members along with her. They’ll also like the song’s catchy beat and easy-to-remember format.

A bright, engaging kids’ story about a family dinner.

Pub Date: July 28, 2023

ISBN: 979-8987317006

Page Count: 38

Publisher: Self

Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024

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THIS IS A SCHOOL

A full-hearted valentine.

A soaring panegyric to elementary school as a communal place to learn and grow.

“This is a kid,” Schu begins. “This is a kid in a class. This is a class in a hall….” If that class—possibly second graders, though they could be a year to either side of that—numbers only about a dozen in Jamison’s bright paintings, it makes up for that in diversity, with shiny faces of variously brown or olive complexion well outnumbering paler ones; one child using a wheelchair; and at least two who appear to be Asian. (The adult staff is likewise racially diverse.) The children are individualized in the art, but the author’s narrative is addressed more to an older set of readers as it runs almost entirely to collective nouns and abstract concepts: “We share. We help. / This is a community, growing.” Younger audiences will zero in on the pictures, which depict easily recognizable scenes of both individual and collective learning and play, with adults and classmates always on hand to help out or join in. Signs of conflict are unrealistically absent, but an occasional downcast look does add a bit of nuance to the general air of eager positivity on display. A sad face at an apartment window with a comment that “[s]ometimes something happens, and we can’t all be together” can be interpreted as an oblique reference to pandemic closings, but the central message here is that school is a physical space, not a virtual one, where learning and community happen. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A full-hearted valentine. (Picture book. 5-7)

Pub Date: March 29, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-5362-0458-2

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: March 29, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2022

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TISHA AND THE BLOSSOMS

A sweet reminder to pause and ponder life’s everyday wonders.

A young girl models mindfulness as she savors each moment.

This charming and vibrant picture book opens in Tisha’s backyard, where she is reaching skyward as falling blossoms float toward her. Her joy and anticipation are disrupted by a series of “hurry up” commands from those around her, who prod her to rush for the school bus, attend an assembly, and make sure that she doesn’t miss lunch. The externally imposed directions conflict with Tisha’s natural curiosity, which compels her not only to “listen to the sounds” and to count the spots on a ladybug she finds during recess, but also to create connections between a book she finds about space and the space shuttle she imagines but cannot finish drawing because “it’s time to put the crayons away.” When Tisha requests “a little slowdown,” she and Mommy decide to walk home and play “How Many?” along the way; they also snuggle on a park bench and name all the pigeons. What began as a harried day ends on an idyllic note with a family picnic under flowering trees; when the wind blows, Tisha can catch a blossom at last. Artful and striking illustrations produce a multitude of visual textures that delineate individual blooms, sketch Tisha’s neighborhood, render colorful yet subtle details of characters and clothing, and deliver painterly impressions. Tisha and her family are tan-skinned with dark hair; her classmates are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sweet reminder to pause and ponder life’s everyday wonders. (Picture book. 5-7)

Pub Date: May 17, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-5362-2198-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: April 12, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2022

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