Good intentions are mired in mediocre visual and textual storytelling.
Ben wants to grow up to be a ballet dancer, just like his dad.
One day at school Ben and his friends play dress up. The kids talk about what they want to be when they grow up: taekwondo master, architect, teacher, doctor. Then, it’s Ben’s turn. He wants to do the same thing his dad does: fly. Can the kids guess his dad’s profession? What job could Ben’s dad have that requires flying, strength, speed, and more? With a giant leap and a pirouette, Ben gives the kids a visual clue. His dad is a ballet dancer! This short book is really more of a guessing game than a story, given the lack of urgency or conflict. The third-person narration is concise and descriptive, if a bit plodding, as it tells of the depth and breadth of skill and athleticism required of a dancer. Illustrations show Ben’s dad dancing before his profession is revealed in the text, so readers will know the answer to the riddle before Ben’s classmates do. Ben and his dad are drawn with pale skin and brown hair, and supporting characters are racially diverse. Unfortunately, characters’ bodies often lack defined bone structure, so movements appear weak or awkward instead of strong and energetic. Co-author Forster is a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, and backmatter includes pictures of the author dancing as well as pictures of his son, Ben. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Good intentions are mired in mediocre visual and textual storytelling. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Nov. 23, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-18097-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House Studio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 10, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
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
A delightfully silly celebration of familial love.
A child in search of the best hugger takes a bedtime tour of the world’s most unusual embraces.
In the opening pages of this rhyming picture book, an unnamed narrator asks a curly-haired, tan-skinned child who they think gives the best hugs. At the narrator’s behest, the protagonist spends their bedtime routine receiving affection from a wacky cast of creatures, ranging from meerkats to porcupines to narwhals. These animals have a variety of body types, but even those with a lack of limbs still express their love; the seahorse, for example, gives the child a “smooch” right before bathtime, and a grinning cobra offers the child a “clinch,” wrapping itself around their leg. Although many of the animals prove to be more prickly than cozy—the narrator points out, for example, the sharpness of bird beaks and porcupine quills—even the snuggliest koalas and bears cannot compare to the best hug of all: a parent’s embrace right before bedtime. The use of second-person address combined with the protagonist’s beautifully illustrated facial expressions and the buoyant, clever lines of verse render this book a hilarious and whimsical ride sure to delight both children and the adults who read to them. The pictures and text work together to create a clear narrative arc for the protagonist, and though the ending is a bit predictable, it’s nevertheless a wonderful payoff. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A delightfully silly celebration of familial love. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 24, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-5476-1236-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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