A sweet story about what makes a house a home and a portrayal of adoption that has its merits and shortcomings.
A fun and lighthearted story about adoption.
J.J., a newborn baby with ruddy skin, is adopted into a rambunctious family. Each of his four siblings, who are loud and energetic, clamor around, attempting to touch him, although he is fast asleep. The dog barks, the washing machine beeps, and the siblings thunder through the house, playing and making music, but J.J. sleeps through the din. When all of the siblings leave the house for a weekend to participate in various extracurricular activities, J.J. cannot sleep—it is too quiet! For the first time, he wails inconsolably and grows cranky. It is only when his boisterous siblings return—giggling, chasing each other, and loudly regaling their parents with stories—that J.J. finally dozes off. Adoptive parents in children’s books are usually White, but Garbutt’s story refreshingly features both adoptive parents and an adoption agent who present as people of color; J.J.’s siblings are also racially diverse. This offering further sets itself apart from other children’s books about adoption by telling a story about an adopted child that does not focus explicitly on the experience of adoption. However, like so many picture books portraying adopted children, Garbutt’s narrative presents a simplistic, one-sided view that focuses solely on a happy homecoming and fails to mention anything about J.J.’s birthparents, perpetuating the stereotype that the true life of adoptees begins at adoption.
A sweet story about what makes a house a home and a portrayal of adoption that has its merits and shortcomings. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: May 3, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5253-0419-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2022
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
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