A strong, unusual addition to the biography shelf.
Cyprien-Noé Cyr was born to a poor farming family in a small Quebec village that had no idea one of their own would one day attain worldwide fame.
As Cyprien-Noé grew, Grandpa Pierre took him to Mr. Trudeau’s blacksmith shop. Not only was Mr. Trudeau strong enough to hammer red-hot horseshoes into shape, he could also lift the heavy iron anvil. These feats inspired Cyprien-Noé to become as strong as Mr. Trudeau. When he was a teen, the family’s finances forced them to move to Lowell, Massachusetts. In hopes of helping him assimilate, Cyprien-Noé’s parents changed his name to Louis as they settled in their new life. There, Louis and his father found work at a textile mill where Louis proved his worth by lifting boxes of cotton that weighed almost 200 pounds. Soon, many men challenged Louis’ strength, though none could best him. After catching the attention of a coach, Louis’ career as a weight lifter took off, and he won championship after championship in Canada, the United States, and in Europe, ultimately earning the title the Strongest Man in the World. Papineau’s simple text shares interesting details about Louis Cyr’s fascinating life in an accessible text punctuated by well-chosen details. Hamel’s whimsical illustrations have a matte, folk-art look that suits her rough-hewn subject, surrounding him with a largely white though socio-economically diverse cast. There are no source notes or bibliography, but the cover unfolds to reveal a timeline and a poster with archival photos—alas, this will be unavailable to children checking the book out of the library.
A strong, unusual addition to the biography shelf. (Picture book/biography. 4-8)Pub Date: May 16, 2017
ISBN: 978-2-7338-4614-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Auzou Publishing
Review Posted Online: March 5, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
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
Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.” (Picture book. 4-8)
Bewitched by the rhythms of jazz all around her in Depression-era Kansas City, little Melba Doretta Liston longs to make music in this fictional account of a little-known jazz great.
Picking up the trombone at 7, the little girl teaches herself to play with the support of her Grandpa John and Momma Lucille, performing on the radio at 8 and touring as a pro at just 17. Both text and illustrations make it clear that it’s not all easy for Melba; “The Best Service for WHITES ONLY” reads a sign in a hotel window as the narrative describes a bigotry-plagued tour in the South with Billie Holiday. But joy carries the day, and the story ends on a high note, with Melba “dazzling audiences and making headlines” around the world. Russell-Brown’s debut text has an innate musicality, mixing judicious use of onomatopoeia with often sonorous prose. Morrison’s sinuous, exaggerated lines are the perfect match for Melba’s story; she puts her entire body into her playing, the exaggerated arch of her back and thrust of her shoulders mirroring the curves of her instrument. In one thrilling spread, the evening gown–clad instrumentalist stands over the male musicians, her slide crossing the gutter while the back bow disappears off the page to the left. An impressive discography complements a two-page afterword and a thorough bibliography.
Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.” (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-60060-898-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2014
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