Certainly cute and good animal practice for little ones, but there’s just something off about this one.
An adorable, rosy-cheeked blond boy decked out in overalls has some advice for readers about Mother’s Day gifts.
It’s really more nonadvice, as he freely tells readers what she won’t appreciate. “Do NOT give her a bucket of big, fat worms… / unless she is a bird.” Left-hand pages show the boy inappropriately gifting his mother, while right-hand pages show the appropriate animals enjoying the gifts: “Tweet, tweet! Plump, juicy worms!” A beat-up shoe is a poor gift choice…unless your mom is a dog. Save the dead flies for spider moms, the rotting log for a salamander and the block of salt for the deer. Cross sticks, a mound of termites, a mud puddle and mosquitoes off the shopping list. And as for what the pint-sized tyke does recommend? Well, a hug and a kiss, of course. Brilliant hues and patterns fill Christy’s spreads, which highlight just the right details for younger readers. But strangely, the mother comes off as a bit of a layabout and interacts very little with her child. Her activities include a bubble bath, reading in a comfy chair, coffee on the porch and lying in the hammock—in that order, which is also a bit odd—and culminate in a shared dessert with her little boy.
Certainly cute and good animal practice for little ones, but there’s just something off about this one. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 2, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4778-1647-9
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing
Review Posted Online: March 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2013
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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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