A gentle demonstration of how familial bonds—and traditions—can endure even over vast physical distances.
A meaningful ritual brings young Silas and Great-Grandma Faye closer together.
According to observant Jewish tradition, Havdalah signifies the formal end of Shabbat on Saturday night and its “separation” from the other days of the week. (Havdalah means “separation” in Hebrew.) On one of their weekly video calls, Great-Grandma Faye tells Silas how much she loves Havdalah; she suggests that the two of them perform the ceremony virtually until they can meet in person again. Great-Grandma Faye shows Silas a spice box—a very important item used in the ceremony—made by Great-Grandpa long ago. Inspired, Silas creates his own version from a lidded plastic cup, which he fills with cinnamon, his favorite spice, and shows it to Great-Grandma Faye on their next call. When Great-Grandma Faye finally arrives, the family observes Havdalah with both boxes. Children will appreciate Silas and Great-Grandma Faye’s loving intergenerational relationship and their up-to-date communication style; readers will smile as the two sign off with variations on the phrase “See you soon” (“See you soon, Harvest Moon!” “See you soon, Green Balloon!”). Great-Grandma Faye’s clear yet whimsically child-friendly explanation of Havdalah (“the in-between-est part of the week”) will resonate with youngsters. Muted illustrations depict a loving, light-skinned family amid cozy settings; some background characters are brown-skinned.
A gentle demonstration of how familial bonds—and traditions—can endure even over vast physical distances. (about Havdalah, making a spice box for Havdalah) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 4, 2025
ISBN: 9798765627440
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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