A celebration of a bilingual childhood.
A Latine child speaks both Spanish and English.
Sometimes, Sami speaks both at the same time! Sami uses Spanglish—a blend of English and Spanish—at home and at school. The child runs into trouble, however, when Abuela voices her disapproval of combining the two languages—she thinks that Spanish should be reserved for home and English for la escuela; otherwise, Sami will get confused. After being misunderstood by others and then being marked down for using Spanglish on a school assignment, Sami starts to think Abuela might be right. Though the teacher should know better than to criticize a multilingual student for not using “proper English,” Sami decides to listen to Abuela. But this new, self-imposed one-language-at-a-time rule makes Sami unhappy. A chat with brown-skinned neighbor Mrs. Bell reminds Sami that two languages can be more expressive than one. Suddenly, Sami is teaching Mrs. Bell and other community members how to speak in Spanglish, and, just like that, Sami’s confidence returns. Sami is instantly likable; this depiction of the challenges of feeling understood will resonate with many children, particularly those who speak two languages. Bold, lively illustrations bring to life Sami’s uncertainties and eventual triumph. Sami’s family is brown-skinned; the cast is diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A celebration of a bilingual childhood. (author’s note, glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 22, 2023
ISBN: 9780593521809
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 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
BOOK REVIEW
Affectionate and affirming.
Today co-anchor Melvin pens an ode to the father-son bond.
A dad lists all the things he admires about his son, including the boy’s willingness to face his fears (such as diving into the swimming pool) and his ability to “make people laugh, / bring joy to folks.” The child shows “kindness and grace” when apologizing for a mistake, and he perseveres in the face of failure (“They can’t all be wins”). The boy has an inquisitive mind (“You ask questions and investigate. / Who knows what you’ll find?”), and he’s a caring big brother who loves building sand castles with his younger sibling. Ultimately, the father salutes his son for the person he is “through good times and bad, / no matter what.” Melvin conveys the joy of watching a child grow into a strong, capable adult while maintaining a sense of childlike wonder. Rather than focusing on traditionally masculine activities or attitudes, he celebrates qualities such as emotional intelligence and a nurturing spirit. While the text on occasion dips into sentimentality, overall Melvin delivers a sound message. Cloud’s digital illustrations depict the family and their diverse community with expressive faces, capturing their myriad emotions and lending the book an exuberant tone. The father presents Black, his partner appears white, and the tan-skinned children are biracial; all are unnamed.
Affectionate and affirming. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9780063206137
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
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