An inspiring, positive tale that exemplifies staying true to yourself.
A boy pursues his love for dance despite bullies in Sanders’ picture book.
Prince, a 7-year-old boy, struggles to find his passion, particularly when compared to his popular and athletic brother, Andrew. Despite Andrew’s encouragement, Prince, who is Black, feels disheartened that “his body didn’t want to cooperate and do the things Andrew instructed.” When Mom takes the family to see the ballet at Lincoln Center in Manhattan, Prince is captivated and soon enrolls in a ballet class. The only boy there, he adores class and excels at the steps. The teacher, Miss Adriana, says, “He is destined to be a dancer!” The boy’s talent shines, and he becomes familiar with the “French words and the beautiful movements.” However, school bullies ridicule him for being a dancer. Prince’s mom says, “Trust in yourself, and never let what anyone says stop you from doing the things that you love.” She also suggests that Prince practice standing up for himself by talking to his pet hamster, Popcorn. When Prince nervously notices school staff and students in the audience at a performance at the mall, he reminds himself of his mom’s words and pushes on. Prince is shocked when his gym teacher, Coach L., praises his dancing and asks him to demonstrate moves in class. His diverse schoolmates, including Black and White students, cheer Prince and enjoy listening to his stories about “his adventures in dance.” Prince realizes he “didn’t need to play football or baseball to be a hero at school. He just had to find what he was good at.” Prince is a likable, relatable protagonist whose authenticity and determination are admirable. His dedication to ballet may inspire readers to discover their own passions and persevere through their own challenges. Ditya’s colorful digital illustrations offer fun, animated scenes of Prince’s journey, like “wearing his grown-up clothes” to the ballet and performing on stage. Readers will particularly enjoy Popcorn’s appearance, as when Prince imagines the critter wearing a tutu.
An inspiring, positive tale that exemplifies staying true to yourself.Pub Date: Aug. 23, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-63661-428-1
Page Count: 58
Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Co.
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Safe to creep on by.
Carle’s famous caterpillar expresses its love.
In three sentences that stretch out over most of the book’s 32 pages, the (here, at least) not-so-ravenous larva first describes the object of its love, then describes how that loved one makes it feel before concluding, “That’s why… / I[heart]U.” There is little original in either visual or textual content, much of it mined from The Very Hungry Caterpillar. “You are… / …so sweet,” proclaims the caterpillar as it crawls through the hole it’s munched in a strawberry; “…the cherry on my cake,” it says as it perches on the familiar square of chocolate cake; “…the apple of my eye,” it announces as it emerges from an apple. Images familiar from other works join the smiling sun that shone down on the caterpillar as it delivers assurances that “you make… / …the sun shine brighter / …the stars sparkle,” and so on. The book is small, only 7 inches high and 5 ¾ inches across when closed—probably not coincidentally about the size of a greeting card. While generations of children have grown up with the ravenous caterpillar, this collection of Carle imagery and platitudinous sentiment has little of his classic’s charm. The melding of Carle’s caterpillar with Robert Indiana’s iconic LOVE on the book’s cover, alas, draws further attention to its derivative nature.
Safe to creep on by. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Dec. 15, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-448-48932-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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