A tender, subtle introduction to death.
A tribute to a long, well-lived life.
Young Paula identifies with swift animals, like horses and dolphins, but especially sky-skimming birds. Grown up, she cooks sumptuous stews for her family (two small beings are pictured) and her dog, Leon. Her zest for food leaves her covered in breadcrumbs and earns her the name Mommy Crumbs. Years flow by with the turn of a page: Leon has died and is fondly remembered; Mommy Crumbs is now a grandmother. These days, her cooking is limited to snacks, but she’s still covered in crumbs, so her grandkids bring her a gift: a chick that gobbles them up. The chick quickly grows enormous, and Mommy Crumbs, folded against its wing, is “very, very old.” Sitting atop the fowl, she smilingly bids goodbye to her family, happy that she is going to achieve her lifelong dream: to fly. Now the family misses her, but every crumb they see is a reminder of the enduring presence of their beloved matriarch. Andrés and his mother, González, have written a refreshingly uplifting, understated take on loss. Translated from Spanish, their words are illuminated by brilliant, offbeat color-block, collagelike images that play blue and orange tones off each other, with a fine disregard for small accuracies (Paula has cyan hair, and though she and many characters are light-skinned, other have bluish skin).
A tender, subtle introduction to death. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2024
ISBN: 9788419607386
Page Count: 36
Publisher: NubeOcho
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet notion that falls flat.
A hit song reimagined as a book about parental love.
Featured in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1, Perri’s “A Thousand Years” deals with the speaker’s fear of romantic love. In picture-book form, it explores a parent’s unwavering love for a child, who grows from an infant into a toddler over the course of the narrative. The caregiver expresses awe when the youngster learns to stand and fear that the child might fall while beginning to walk. “I have spent every day waiting for you,” the parent says. “Darling, don’t be afraid.” What the child might fear isn’t clear from the joyful balloon- and rainbow-filled illustrations. The story borders on cloying, and words that might work when sung and accompanied by music don’t sound fresh on the page: “Time goes by. / You grow ever stronger as you fly.” The refrain, however, is a lovely sentiment: “I have loved you for a thousand years. / I’ll love you for a thousand more.” Perri’s legion of fans may flock to this version, illustrated by Ruiz with sparkling stars, bubbles, and big-eyed toddlers, but it doesn’t hold together as a narrative or an ode, as it’s billed, and it’s a long way from the original song. The child is tan-skinned, the parent is lighter-skinned, and other characters are diverse.
A sweet notion that falls flat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622599
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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