A playful tale offering readers a peek at moms across the species. Supermom is a wonder to behold: she propagates her species, plays the greatest games, protects, and nurtures her young. The main text comments on the general theme of each page—playing, communicating, defending—while the subtext, set in a bolder typeface, provides captions for the illustrations of different creatures. Moms of all types are celebrated: human, animal, and insect mothers alike receive accolades. While the book does not provide an in-depth, scientific approach to the mothering habits of various animals, it does offer readers intriguing tidbits of animal-mom trivia. However, Manning's scope proves to be too broad; his attempts to establish connections among all mothers result in a few glaring missteps in the text, limiting its appeal. The assertion that "We call the person who gave birth to us 'mom.' We call the grownup who takes care of us 'mom,' too" is not applicable (and more than a little misleading) for the large number of children in daycare or those who stay at home with their fathers, grandparents, or other relatives. Furthermore, to say that all moms are "supermoms" and therefore gentle, nurturing, cuddly, etc., is simply wishful thinking. Ganström's full-color illustrations highlight a nice variety of moms busily mothering, be it a bear cuddling her young cub, or a wolf frolicking with her pups. Each two-page spread features moms of different species engaged in similar activities, establishing, with more success than the text, a clearer connection between these seemingly disparate mothers. A clever concept supported by appealing illustrations that sadly falls short of the mark. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-8075-7666-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2001
Being kind and helpful lights up the day from within in this inspiring and idyllic slice-of-life tale.
Actor, social media star, and entrepreneur Brown pens a joyful paean to positive thinking in her children’s debut.
Brown-skinned Tab rides a strawberry-themed bike, accompanied by a curly-haired black dog, Grady. Tab’s dazzling smile and wide eyes signal the upbeat theme echoed in the text, celebrating the sun’s warmth, which “fills everyone up with joy.” But Tab’s mood shifts, as it’s a “cloudy and gray” June day. Alert readers will spot the dog’s smiling countenance and note glimpses of sunny yellow butterflies and flowers. Mama’s reassurance that there’s “always a chance” for sunshine also underscores the optimism. Tab and Grady bike through suburban streets “to find the sun.” Along the way, the two stop to assist a neighbor building a birdhouse, loft a kite for friends Frankie and Fonte, and lend a hand to others, all while still having fun. Mama steers Tab toward an eventual understanding of the real source of joy: Though the sun didn’t appear, “I brightened everyone’s day!” The illustrations subtly underscore the message of this radiant story as touches of gold lighten the palette, which ends with sunny brilliance. Most characters read Black, though Tab’s community includes people who vary in skin tone, body type, and ability.
Being kind and helpful lights up the day from within in this inspiring and idyllic slice-of-life tale. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 11, 2025
ISBN: 9780063342262
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025
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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