Like heavy metal, this one won’t please every reader.
Well-meaning parents contend with a difficult child.
The quiet Mumfords are rearing a “Metal Baby.” He sports white face paint, heavy black eyeliner, and black spiky hair and shrieks nonstop. The Mumfords take their tot on car rides and hayrides. They bring him pacifiers. But Metal Baby won’t be tamed; he screams, flings teddy bears, and swings from the chandelier. The Mumfords seek out help from a nanny, but rather than curtailing Metal Baby’s naughty behavior, she just plays guitar while the infant serenades an audience of plush toys. The Mumfords are bewildered to learn that their Metal Baby is the headliner for “Metalpowerpalooza,” an upcoming festival boasting “3 DAYS OF NONSTOP METAL MAYHEM.” As a bevy of metalheads descends on the Mumfords’ front lawn, the exhausted parents embrace the chaos and find a creative solution. While all of this may make adults chuckle, the references to metal and alternative rock will probably be lost on young readers. Since the main character is a baby, it’s unlikely that children beyond kindergarten will be interested, though they’ll have a better chance at grasping the humor. Still, when the Mumfords (at least temporarily) become metalheads themselves, a lesson about affirming a child’s interests comes through. The Mumfords and Metal Baby have pale skin; the other metal fans are racially diverse.
Like heavy metal, this one won’t please every reader. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 12, 2024
ISBN: 9781665924931
Page Count: 40
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
An upbeat tale with a much-needed message: Imagination and positivity can save the day.
In this picture book from pop star Kevin Jonas and his wife, TV personality Danielle Jonas, a rainy day forces a child to find an alternate way to enjoy the beach.
Family beach day is one of Bella’s favorite things. She loves splashing in the waves, jumping from rock to rock, and building sand castles. Today, however, the weather isn’t cooperating, but Bella isn’t upset. “It will just have to stop raining. That’s all.” Disappointment sets in when her family tells her that beach day is off. Teary Bella rejects suggested indoor pastimes like board games, musical jam sessions, or reading stories together, and she retreats to her room. Dejected, Bella consoles herself with her stuffed bunny, Mr. Bonkers, until her parents and sister, Emma, knock on her door with a surprise: “BEDROOM BEACH DAY!” With just a few household items—a big lamp for the sun, a fan for the ocean breeze, a blue blanket for water, and pillows for rocks—and a large dose of imagination, Bella’s bedroom is transformed. A flexible attitude from all helps Bella—and readers—realize that things may not always go as planned…but sometimes they can be even better than we expected. Whimsical, cartoonish drawings and a dialogue-driven narrative turn a setback into an uplifting family experience. Bella and her family are light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An upbeat tale with a much-needed message: Imagination and positivity can save the day. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: July 11, 2023
ISBN: 9780593352106
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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