A familial tale of gratitude and finding wonder in the world.
An Indonesian family embarks on their annual road trip from Jakarta to Grandma’s countryside village.
Aisha wants a new and exciting trip. The young narrator’s friend Jennie will be spending time in the snow (“white and crisp and crunchy”), while another pal, Dimas, will be floating under blue skies in the turquoise of a hotel pool. Stopping at a roadside stall for es campur, the family delights in the snowlike shaved ice dessert. They later look out the window at the sparkling blue ocean. But when their car breaks down, a frustrated Aisha sulks in a field, envious of the family’s neighbor Siregar, who visited an aquarium last year and saw “tropical fish of every color.” Looking up, Aisha sees the sky painted with a multitude of vibrant, fish-shaped kites and is suddenly filled with a newfound awe and joy. There are colors all around, Aisha realizes as the family arrives at Grandma’s. The youngster’s favorite is sunny yellow, like Grandma’s kebaya and the soto soup she prepares them for the evening meal. Adani’s mixed-media illustrations are soft and muted, with few strong lines among bright, buttery colors, matching the gentle, uplifting mood of the book. Illustrations of Jakarta include signs in Indonesian and other facets of daily life, while scenes at Aisha’s grandmother’s house depict traditional Javanese architecture; Adani gives readers a window into the differences between urban and rural Indonesian life—as well as a lesson in learning to appreciate everyday beauty.
A familial tale of gratitude and finding wonder in the world. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9781536235401
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
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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