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NIGHT GUARD

Name: NIGHT GUARD
Author: Synne Lea
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5458-2

by Synne Lea ; illustrated by Stian Hole ; translated by John Irons ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2016

A quiet, contemplative book that will appeal to introspective children and adults

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In a series of poems that together make a whole, a child reflects on life’s imponderables through the shifting seasons.

Imported from Norway, this story of a sensitive child in need of a friend, of just the right dog, and of the reassurance of a stable family will strike a chord with anyone who has wondered if dreams, good or bad, might come true. The stunning, surrealistic artwork recalls Magritte. The illustrations command lingering, from the fanciful cover and dreamlike endpapers to the full-page interior art. The text, which similarly invites repeated readings, taps into the reservoir of fear within all children of what the future may hold and captures the lonely narrator’s contemplation of abandonment. Mom, a cryptic character with her own thwarted dreams, seeks the warmth of summer while recognizing the loneliness of childhood: “If you feel sad, she says, / maybe it’ll help you / to know that the trees notice it. / … / They’d like to creep into / the hollow of your neck / and be comforted by / comforting you.” The book’s square trim size and length—and its elusiveness—suggest that this is for older children.

A quiet, contemplative book that will appeal to introspective children and adults . (Picture book. 7 & up)

Pub Date: April 1, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-8028-5458-2

Page Count: 82

Publisher: Eerdmans

Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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LITTLE DAYMOND LEARNS TO EARN

by Daymond John ; illustrated by Nicole Miles ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 21, 2023

It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists.

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How to raise money for a coveted poster: put your friends to work!

John, founder of the FUBU fashion line and a Shark Tank venture capitalist, offers a self-referential blueprint for financial success. Having only half of the $10 he needs for a Minka J poster, Daymond forks over $1 to buy a plain T-shirt, paints a picture of the pop star on it, sells it for $5, and uses all of his cash to buy nine more shirts. Then he recruits three friends to decorate them with his design and help sell them for an unspecified amount (from a conveniently free and empty street-fair booth) until they’re gone. The enterprising entrepreneur reimburses himself for the shirts and splits the remaining proceeds, which leaves him with enough for that poster as well as a “brand-new business book,” while his friends express other fiscal strategies: saving their share, spending it all on new art supplies, or donating part and buying a (math) book with the rest. (In a closing summation, the author also suggests investing in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrency.) Though Miles cranks up the visual energy in her sparsely detailed illustrations by incorporating bright colors and lots of greenbacks, the actual advice feels a bit vague. Daymond is Black; most of the cast are people of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists. (Picture book. 7-9)

Pub Date: March 21, 2023

ISBN: 978-0-593-56727-2

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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LET IT GLOW

by Marissa Meyer & Joanne Levy ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 29, 2024

A warm bundle of holiday cheer.

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In a funny, feel-good tale, 12-year-old twins separated at birth meet by chance and try to pull off a family switch during the December holidays.

The girls, who are cued white, agree that it would be a delicious prank, but each has a personal motive, too: Aviva Davis, who was adopted by a culturally Jewish mom and a Black dad who was raised Christian, wonders what it’s like to celebrate Christmas. Budding author Holly Martin, who was adopted by a white-presenting single mom, sees a golden opportunity to gather experiences for a school writing assignment about facing her fears. In a plot as sweet as a Hanukkah jelly doughnut and twisty as a Christmas cinnamon roll, the pair just manages to bail one another out of a string of sticky situations—both hilarious and otherwise. They both learn something of the customs and meaning of the two holidays while working through tears and laughter—not to mention conflicts sparked by their very different personalities. Everything culminates in a holiday performance at a local senior center that will have readers rising up to cheer them on. Though their history remains tantalizingly mysterious, for the protagonists, who narrate alternating chapters, it’s mission accomplished and more: Aviva emerges feeling more secure in her Jewish identity, while anxious Holly discovers unexpected depths of courage.

A warm bundle of holiday cheer. (song lyrics) (Fiction. 8-12)