Reach for books that show the people being referenced instead.
Various animal species affirm that no one is better than another.
“We are all equal,” each page of this simple book proclaims; three lines follow, rhyming in an abcb pattern and reflecting the differences between the two kinds of animals on the page, the second one of which segues to the next double-page spread. A panda speaks to a monkey, the monkey to penguins, and so on. The text makes explicit references to human differences that are often judged. Immigration is addressed: “You’ve crossed land and sea. / This country’s your home now, / it’s for you and me.” So are marriage equality (two un-antlered deer rub noses: “Our love we decide. / We can get married, / no love is denied”), body shaming, and income inequality, among others. The illustrations feature smiling, friendly animals getting along with different species; all join together on the last page, declaring joyously, “We share hopes and dreams. / We’re equal and proud.” The cadence stumbles in some places, making it slightly awkward to read aloud. The expressive illustrations make up for the lackluster text; as a whole, the book is engaging enough to confirm messages of equality for very young children. However, the use of animal characters in this indirect didacticism dilutes the importance of acknowledging power dynamics among different human groups and cannot replace wide and varied exposure to human characters of all kinds. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-19-inch double-page spreads viewed at 34.1% of actual size.)
Reach for books that show the people being referenced instead. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-20255-5
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
Sadly, the storytelling runs aground.
A little red sleigh has big Christmas dreams.
Although the detailed, full-color art doesn’t anthropomorphize the protagonist (which readers will likely identify as a sled and not a sleigh), a close third-person text affords the object thoughts and feelings while assigning feminine pronouns. “She longed to become Santa’s big red sleigh,” reads an early line establishing the sleigh’s motivation to leave her Christmas-shop home for the North Pole. Other toys discourage her, but she perseveres despite creeping self-doubt. A train and truck help the sleigh along, and when she wishes she were big, fast, and powerful like them, they offer encouragement and counsel patience. When a storm descends after the sleigh strikes out on her own, an unnamed girl playing in the snow brings her to a group of children who all take turns riding the sleigh down a hill. When the girl brings her home, the sleigh is crestfallen she didn’t reach the North Pole. A convoluted happily-ever-after ending shows a note from Santa that thanks the sleigh for giving children joy and invites her to the North Pole next year. “At last she understood what she was meant to do. She would build her life up spreading joy, one child at a time.” Will she leave the girl’s house to be gifted to other children? Will she stay and somehow also reach ever more children? Readers will be left wondering. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 31.8% of actual size.)
Sadly, the storytelling runs aground. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-72822-355-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2020
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