A whimsical escort from the reality of nighttime into the fantasy of dreamland.
In this French import, a young child goes searching for a nighttime friend to help him overcome his fear of the dark.
George has a hard time falling asleep. “I wish I had a nighttime friend, even a small one,” he says one night. Answering the call is a prim little mouse, who takes this small White boy with brown hair and striped pajamas on an adventure in his own house. In wondrous illustrations that balance a calming cadence with visual curiosity, the two explorers meet new friends who also need a bit of encouragement. An elegant bunny who plays piano has stage fright. A fluffy penguin quivers in the bathroom, afraid of water. With each turn of the page, a new friend is added, and the visuals become more festive. Ratanavanh’s artistic style highlights beautiful, repeated geometric patterns in a handsome color scheme that transforms a realistic bedroom into a magical landscape. Small quirky details create a thread of wonder that flows through the book—the butterflies on the wallpaper become real, smoke rises from the dollhouse chimney, and the outdoors—flowers, grasses, a lily pad–studded pond, a forest—gradually moves indoors. The gentle friends and their night of curious fun ease George’s mind as they tuck him into bed. “Good night, my nighttime friends.” Satisfying, comforting, and full of tender surprises.
A whimsical escort from the reality of nighttime into the fantasy of dreamland. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-64896-070-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
A jam-packed opener sure to satisfy lovers of the princess genre.
Ice princess Lina must navigate family and school in this early chapter read.
The family picnic is today. This is not a typical gathering, since Lina’s maternal relatives are a royal family of Windtamers who have power over the weather and live in castles floating on clouds. Lina herself is mixed race, with black hair and a tan complexion like her Asian-presenting mother’s; her Groundling father appears to be a white human. While making a grand entrance at the castle of her grandfather, the North Wind, she fails to successfully ride a gust of wind and crashes in front of her entire family. This prompts her stern grandfather to ask that Lina move in with him so he can teach her to control her powers. Desperate to avoid this, Lina and her friend Claudia, who is black, get Lina accepted at the Hilltop Science and Arts Academy. Lina’s parents allow her to go as long as she does lessons with grandpa on Saturdays. However, fitting in at a Groundling school is rough, especially when your powers start freak winter storms! With the story unfurling in diary format, bright-pink–highlighted grayscale illustrations help move the plot along. There are slight gaps in the storytelling and the pacing is occasionally uneven, but Lina is full of spunk and promotes self-acceptance.
A jam-packed opener sure to satisfy lovers of the princess genre. (Fantasy. 5-8)Pub Date: June 25, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-35393-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
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