Worth wading through the text for the artwork, which offers a more inclusive portrayal of the Nativity.
Originally published in 1998 with illustrations by Lorraine Wells, then republished in 2010 with art by Rebecca Thornburgh, Pingry’s Nativity story sees new life with fresh artwork by Buckingham.
A brown-skinned family gathers on Christmas and learns the story of Jesus’ birth, from the angel telling Mary that she will have a child, to Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem, to, finally, the Wise Men celebrating the new baby’s birth. At the end, the present-day family exchanges gifts as a sign of love for each other and celebrates Jesus’ birthday. The somewhat bland text treads familiar ground; this is a story that’s been told and retold many times, though it does break the tale down into digestible pieces for young children. Because the explanations are fairly simple, it may not be helpful to those seeking to learn about the holiday. The illustrations, however, are cheery and warm. Notably, the biblical figures, except for a couple of light-skinned angels, are depicted in varying shades of brown skin—a welcome change from books about the Nativity that portray characters as White. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Worth wading through the text for the artwork, which offers a more inclusive portrayal of the Nativity. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5460-0233-8
Page Count: 22
Publisher: WorthyKids/Ideals
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
A pleasant-enough introduction to feelings and how those feelings emerge.
Little readers learn about their feelings.
Feelings can influence behavior in unusual ways, and this board book shows little ones the cause-and-effect relationship feelings and actions may have. The faith-based nature of the board book positions God as the source of feelings, but the book’s larger interest lies in behavioral causes. For example, “When Jo feels happy, he jumps and leaps!” or “When Ava feels sad, she sometimes cries.” The animals are depicted in close-up on verso so readers can clearly see their expressions, and then medium shots of their actions are presented on the facing page. This technique emphasizes the importance of decoding facial expressions when determining a person’s feelings. The animals that exhibit feelings are suitably round and cuddly, colored in a soft, pastel palette. The final two pages contain resources for parents to help them talk to their children about feelings and faith.
A pleasant-enough introduction to feelings and how those feelings emerge. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5064-1782-0
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Sparkhouse
Review Posted Online: April 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The photographs carry this board book even though the presentation and text disappoint.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the largest Hindu festivals, and it’s celebrated all around the world; this nonfiction board book presents its sights, sounds, and celebrations.
Each page of brief, often rhyming text is paired with a vivid photograph depicting wide-eyed toddlers and young children of the Indian diaspora, with dark hair and skin of varying shades of brown. These photographs are the best feature of this book. The text, as narrated by an adult to a young child, talks about the various aspects of the Diwali celebration, including new clothes, prayers, henna, sweets, firecrackers. It occasionally reads awkwardly, and readers may have to hunt for rhymes: “Buy diyas, candles / and paper lanterns.// Henna for hands / and rangoli sand.” With its focus on very young children, the book shows how Diwali is celebrated rather than why. However, notably absent is the holiday’s important community aspect. And although there are multiple mentions of diyas, these beautiful clay lamps that are a highlight of this festival are neither depicted nor explained; neither are such other specialized vocabulary as “jaan” or “rangoli.” A short note at the back of the book gives a smidge more information for older children. There are not many board books for very young kids on this topic, and this one is not everything it could have been.
The photographs carry this board book even though the presentation and text disappoint. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4598-1908-5
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: Nov. 11, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019
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