A tour of the big top, with scores of flaps to lift. The colorful surprises in Munro’s book begin with the inside cover, where a striped tent can be lifted to reveal a clown holding several strings and a ringmaster in a top hat. Lift the clown and discover the author’s name spelled out on balloons. Lift the ringmaster’s hat and it tips in welcome. The reader gets to visit virtually every member of the circus family: trapeze artists, trained horses, acrobats, high-wire walkers, elephants, lions and their tamers. Many of the flaps have extra discoveries—the high-wire bicyclist rides all the way from one side of his two-page spread to the other via a multi-fold flap. The penultimate picture features two flaps that open to reveal the entire circus spread over four pages. There’s very little text, but each two-page spread features a Waldo-esque challenge to find various items. A winning concept expertly executed; could become a young child’s favorite book. (Picture book. 2-7)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-8118-5209-1
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2006
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
Brontorina is a rotund, orange Apatosaurus who dreams of being a ballerina, so she presents herself at Madame Lucille’s Dance Academy: “[I]n my heart I am a ballerina.” Despite Brontorina’s size and lack of ballet shoes, Madame Lucille decides to teach her along with the other, human students. As practice begins, Madame’s main directive to Brontorina is, “Please try not to squash the other dancers.” Here’s where Cecil's spare oil artwork illuminates, in creamy hues, the relatively diminutive children dancing with the enormous Brontorina as she pliés and twirls, wreaking havoc. It soon becomes evident that lessons at the studio are, at the very least, difficult. Brontorina, spilling giant tears, resigns herself to leaving. But there is a big surprise in store, and Madame Lucille gets a fresh perspective. The frankly funny illustrations complement Howe’s understated text, resulting in a sweet, frothy story, complete with tutus and arabesques, for the little (and big) dreamer in everyone, lightheartedly demonstrating that the sky’s the limit, so think big! (Picture book. 2-7)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4437-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: June 14, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2010
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