Wonderfully amusing illustrations enrich a confident, capably executed narrative.
In this German import, Dulcinea rescues her father from a spell an evil witch has cast on him.
It’s classic fairy-tale material: a father and a daughter he loves very much contentedly living together—but next to a forest, wherein dwells a witch. There’s even a castle and a moat with monsters. But this fairy tale is updated with some attitude and a gentle poking of fun at fairy-tale tropes: “The witch sighed. She had always found young children exhausting.” There are also some seriously funny illustrations. Dulcinea has promised her father that she will never enter the enchanted forest, but one day her father ventures in against his own advice, hoping to find blueberries for Dulcinea’s blueberry-pancake birthday breakfast. When he is accosted by and turned into a tree by the witch, Dulcinea must enter the forest herself in search of him. She recognizes him at once, and readers will too, because the illustration shows a tree with big eyes, a hat, mustache, and arm branches with leaf fingers. The story’s illustrations are done with a limited palette of brown and black in a minimal, forthright style that features simple and adroitly effective linework. The juxtaposition of Dulcinea’s earnest, often deadpan mien and the witch’s over-the-top dramatic expressions is priceless. In good fairy-tale style, Dulcinea sets off to find the witch, overcomes obstacles, uses her brain to triumph, and it all ends happily-ever-after. All humans present White.
Wonderfully amusing illustrations enrich a confident, capably executed narrative. (Fantasy. 5-10)Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-776-57395-0
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Gecko Press
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A jam-packed opener sure to satisfy lovers of the princess genre.
Ice princess Lina must navigate family and school in this early chapter read.
The family picnic is today. This is not a typical gathering, since Lina’s maternal relatives are a royal family of Windtamers who have power over the weather and live in castles floating on clouds. Lina herself is mixed race, with black hair and a tan complexion like her Asian-presenting mother’s; her Groundling father appears to be a white human. While making a grand entrance at the castle of her grandfather, the North Wind, she fails to successfully ride a gust of wind and crashes in front of her entire family. This prompts her stern grandfather to ask that Lina move in with him so he can teach her to control her powers. Desperate to avoid this, Lina and her friend Claudia, who is black, get Lina accepted at the Hilltop Science and Arts Academy. Lina’s parents allow her to go as long as she does lessons with grandpa on Saturdays. However, fitting in at a Groundling school is rough, especially when your powers start freak winter storms! With the story unfurling in diary format, bright-pink–highlighted grayscale illustrations help move the plot along. There are slight gaps in the storytelling and the pacing is occasionally uneven, but Lina is full of spunk and promotes self-acceptance.
A jam-packed opener sure to satisfy lovers of the princess genre. (Fantasy. 5-8)Pub Date: June 25, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-35393-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
A strong second outing for Dillard and J.D.
Breakout kid barber J.D. embraces a summer of opportunity.
Readers met J.D. Jones just as he took his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi, by storm, winning himself community acclaim and a chair at the revered Hart and Sons barbershop in series opener J.D. and the Great Barber Battle(2021). What’s next for the haircut prodigy? School’s just getting out, and there’s so much life happening outside—if only one can escape home learning with the grandparents. J.D.’s sister, Vanessa, brings along multitalented mutual friend Jessyka to share an ambitious challenge: “Let’s start a YouTube channel!” Can they get millions of views and wow the whole world? They are already amazing at haircuts and hairstyles—all they need is to learn how to make a great YouTube video. The story models strategies for scripting short videos reflecting the templates of viral YouTube hair tutorials, inviting readers to not only see the journey of the characters, but maybe also practice these skills at home. This book is bound to educate all about some of the most storied and cherished traditions within the Black community. Bringing in Vanessa is a great touch to extend the series across gender, and hopefully she’ll get a chance to lead her own adventures. This book blends skill-building, entrepreneurship, and strong family values to give young Black children visions of what’s possible when they follow their passions and embrace their community.
A strong second outing for Dillard and J.D. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Aug. 3, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-11155-0
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Kokila
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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