A reminder to stop, listen, and appreciate.
This Dutch and Belgian import explores the communal power of music.
Isabel, a whiskered, rosy-hued mouse, plays the violin. Her brothers and sisters also play classical instruments. Whenever they hold concerts, the entire forest stops to listen. Isabel has an adventurous spirit. She likes to roam the forest in search of new sounds. One day, after finding a bird warbling an intriguing tune, Isabel calls her siblings to come and listen. They aren’t impressed. “This sounds very different from our music,” they sneer. “Our music is much better.” The family pooh-poohs each new sound that Isabel finds. Then one day, she happens upon another group of mice. They are teal (from the city, Overmeer is keen to point out), and one plays the guitar. Isabel’s family, again, thinks the music sounds strange. Isabel can’t take it anymore. “Stop!” she shouts. Her anger and frustration are conveyed by a giant scribbled tornado that swirls across the page. Differences should be celebrated, not ridiculed. And maybe, just maybe, they could make beautiful music together. The resolution is a bit slapdash and pat, but it’s positive nonetheless. Berenschot uses ribbons, bubbles, and droplets to represent music, creatively illustrating the sounds that are so very important to Isabel. Backmatter includes musical-education activities that connect back to the story. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A reminder to stop, listen, and appreciate. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 29, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-60537-636-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clavis
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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
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