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MAMA SHAMSI AT THE BAZAAR

Name: MAMA SHAMSI AT THE BAZAAR
Author: Mojdeh Hassani
ISBN: 978-0-593-11061-4

by Mojdeh Hassani & Samira Iravani ; illustrated by Maya Fidawi ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 28, 2023

A sweet and gentle story about an oft-misunderstood garment.

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When an Iranian child and her grandmother set off for Tehran’s bazaar, the little one sees it as an opportunity to hide in her grandmother’s chador.

Although Samira is eager to help her grandmother shop, she worries that the marketplace will be overwhelming. Despite Mama Shamsi’s reassurance, Samira asks if she can hide under her grandmother’s chador. Mama Shamsi counters Samira’s requests with clever responses, claiming, for example, that if Samira huddles on Mama Shamsi’s back, the pair will look like a turtle and that if she squeezes against Mama Shamsi’s belly, they will resemble a kangaroo. The back and forth continues until they arrive at the bazaar, where Mama Shamsi promises Samira that she will always keep her safe. The rhythmic, playful text beautifully captures the dual patter of an excited child and a bustling city. The authors’ note, which describes the writers’ own childhood experiences playing with their relatives’ chadors, not only imbues the text with meaning, but also helpfully points out elements of the richly hued, often comedically exaggerated illustrations that they find particularly Iranian and especially meaningful. The authors also stress the importance of offering a loving depiction of the chador to counter portrayals of the veil as “a symbol of hate.” Although the title is a bit misleading (the tale ends just before the characters enter the bazaar), this is nevertheless a charming and comforting tale. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sweet and gentle story about an oft-misunderstood garment. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Feb. 28, 2023

ISBN: 978-0-593-11061-4

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Dial Books

Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE'S A BEACH IN MY BEDROOM
by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson

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ONE FAMILY

by George Shannon ; illustrated by Blanca Gómez ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 26, 2015

A visually striking, engaging picture book that sends the message that everyone counts.

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A playful counting book also acts as a celebration of family and human diversity.

Shannon’s text is delivered in spare, rhythmic, lilting verse that begins with one and counts up to 10 as it presents different groupings of things and people in individual families, always emphasizing the unitary nature of each combination. “One is six. One line of laundry. One butterfly’s legs. One family.” Gomez’s richly colored pictures clarify and expand on all that the text lists: For “six,” a picture showing six members of a multigenerational family of color includes a line of laundry with six items hanging from it outside of their windows, as well as the painting of a six-legged butterfly that a child in the family is creating. While text never directs the art to depict diverse individuals and family constellations, Gomez does just this in her illustrations. Interracial families are included, as are depictions of men with their arms around each other, and a Sikh man wearing a turban. This inclusive spirit supports the text’s culminating assertion that “One is one and everyone. One earth. One world. One family.”

A visually striking, engaging picture book that sends the message that everyone counts. (Picture book. 3-6)