A nostalgic and uplifting story of one family’s experience in two cultures.
A Cuban American girl conjures happy visions of her heritage in this illustrated, bilingual book by author Spitzer and illustrator de Carvalho.
On the eve of her quinceañera, or 15th birthday celebration, the narrator thinks about the tree her abuela (grandmother) planted from a seed after immigrating to the United States from Cuba. That tree, now grown tall, represents hopes and dreams. Inspired by her love for her family, the narrator imagines a wishing tree that could conjure physical manifestations of their most precious memories: summer carnavales, beloved foods, Spanish movies, and the smell of the ocean. As she and her family celebrate under her abuela’s tree, the narrator realizes that all people’s lives are grounded by cultural roots and enriched by migratory seeds. The same story is told in both English and Spanish, and the layout incorporates both sets of text without cluttering or obscuring the full-color, painterly illustrations. Interestingly, de Carvalho’s art style presents children as particularly undersized; as a result, the narrator and her sister appear to be about 10 years younger than they are. Although this may be momentarily confusing, this visual encapsulation of childhood is consistent with the book’s halcyon theme. De Carvalho expresses the remembered joy of Cuban culture with vibrant and colorful images that always match the mood of the text; the most somber palette comes with mention of the narrator’s abuela’s life of hard work. The writing has a poetic tone (“The island flavors fill the air, enticing our senses as we dance and laugh together”), and though it’s quite wordy for independent readers, it’s soothing rather than overwhelming. Young children—particularly lap readers—will experience comfort and a sense of wonder.
A nostalgic and uplifting story of one family’s experience in two cultures.Pub Date: May 9, 2023
ISBN: 9781958615034
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Con Todo Press
Review Posted Online: May 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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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