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DREAM, MY CHILD

A charming bedtime story sure to have little ones sleeping in no time—and dreaming up adventures of their own.

Inside the mystical dream world of a sleeping infant.

Perfect for bedtime, this story is narrated by a gentle, loving parent lulling their little one to sleep. It’s 7:22 p.m., according to a nearby clock, and the parent holds the baby and a toy sloth on their lap, reading a story. Nearby, a globe sits on the floor. The simple, repetitive text encourages the baby to close their eyes: “Dream, my child / You’ll sleep tonight.” Though the text is rhythmic and soothing, the illustrations are the star of the show. Readers get a look into the baby’s whimsical fantasy, illustrated evocatively by Secker, who juxtaposes brightly hued characters against a dark gray background. The baby dreams of floating off into the sky with the sloth, who comes to life. They meet other little ones and travel all over the world, floating by the Eiffel Tower and the pyramids in a hot air balloon, observing sea life in a boat, ice-skating with a group of animals, and stopping by the Taj Mahal. At one point, the narrator says, “Good night stars / Good night, moon”—a sweet nod to Margaret Wise Brown’s classic. “When you awake // I’ll be right here,” assures the parent; the final page depicts both parents embracing the child. The baby and their parents are Black; other characters are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A charming bedtime story sure to have little ones sleeping in no time—and dreaming up adventures of their own. (Picture book. 0-3)

Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-5248-6786-7

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Review Posted Online: July 12, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2022

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WONDER

A memorable story of kindness, courage and wonder.

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After being home-schooled for years, Auggie Pullman is about to start fifth grade, but he’s worried: How will he fit into middle school life when he looks so different from everyone else?

Auggie has had 27 surgeries to correct facial anomalies he was born with, but he still has a face that has earned him such cruel nicknames as Freak, Freddy Krueger, Gross-out and Lizard face. Though “his features look like they’ve been melted, like the drippings on a candle” and he’s used to people averting their eyes when they see him, he’s an engaging boy who feels pretty ordinary inside. He’s smart, funny, kind and brave, but his father says that having Auggie attend Beecher Prep would be like sending “a lamb to the slaughter.” Palacio divides the novel into eight parts, interspersing Auggie’s first-person narrative with the voices of family members and classmates, wisely expanding the story beyond Auggie’s viewpoint and demonstrating that Auggie’s arrival at school doesn’t test only him, it affects everyone in the community. Auggie may be finding his place in the world, but that world must find a way to make room for him, too.

A memorable story of kindness, courage and wonder. (Fiction. 8-14)

Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-375-86902-0

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: Dec. 2, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2011

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TILDA TRIES AGAIN

From the Big Bright Feelings series

An accessible entrance into the world of social-emotional skills.

What do you do when the world turns upside down?

Freckled redhead Tilda is a happy only child with a rollicking personality. With lots of books and toys and a multiracial group of friends, life is perfect as far as she’s concerned…until her world undergoes a troubling change (a subtle hint in the illustrations suggests that Tilda’s parents have divorced). Suddenly, nothing feels right, everything seems hard, and she doesn’t want to play with her friends. To reflect this emotional disorientation, the artwork shows Tilda in spatially distorted settings, complete with upside-down objects. It’s not until she sees an upturned ladybug struggle persistently before getting back on its feet (despite Tilda’s desire to help, the ladybug needs to help itself) that Tilda gains the courage to start taking baby steps in order to cope with her new reality. There are still challenges, and she needs to persevere, but eventually, she regains her zest for life and reconnects with her friends. Despite this, the ending avoids an easy happily-ever-after, which feels just right for the subject matter. Though a trifle didactic, the story sends an important message about the roles of self-efficacy and persistence when it comes to overcoming challenges and building resilience. Percival’s digital illustrations use transitions from grayscale to color to create symbolic meaning and have psychological depth, deftly capturing a child’s experience of trauma.

An accessible entrance into the world of social-emotional skills. (author's note) (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: March 1, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-5476-0822-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2022

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