Sweet but of limited appeal to children.
A friendship between two musicians.
Starlings are a species of bird known for their mimicry skills. This picture book, set in 18th-century Vienna, describes the imagined life of a real starling that belonged to Mozart; according to lore, the composer passed a pet store and heard the bird singing one of his pre-published concertos and, charmed, bought the animal. In this book, the bird, later named Star, had previously flown freely around the city, listening to new sounds at various windows (her favorite is Mozart’s), only to be netted by a profit-driven bird catcher and sold to a “dark and noisy bird shop.” She’s finally rescued by Mozart and spends the rest of her life as his beloved pet, possibly inspiring some of his music. The crude illustrations are blocky, with pupil-less eyes, comically stuck-out tongues, and chartreuse-skinned villains (characters have garish skin tones; Mozart himself is purplish-complexioned). While the story is well told, the emotional core is underdeveloped, with the bird kept at a distance. Though adults may understand and appreciate the reference to the Viennese virtuoso, children will likely be less drawn to it, though the goofy pictures will help carry their interest further. Overall this story feels like an interesting historical tidbit unnecessarily lengthened for those few children who are really into birds and/or classical music. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Sweet but of limited appeal to children. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 11, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6689-6
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2022
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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
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