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5 CHERRIES

Painterly figures against plenty of white space—and those gorgeous, red cherries—invite readers into their own fruit-fueled...

A mother gives her two unnamed children five cherries each—they won’t last long. Or will they?

The children are identical—white with dark, straight hair in bowl cuts, both wearing black-and-white–striped tops and black pants—except for the ribbons tied around their outsized heads (one red, one blue) and their shoes (black Mary Janes and white sneakers, respectively), so smudgily painted many readers will miss them. As they play, they shed both ribbons and shoes, becoming nigh indistinguishable. At first they are very different in attitude, though. One complains, “What am I gonna do with only 5 cherries?” The other celebrates: “I’m gonna do a ton of things with these 5 cherries.” Though the blue-ribboned child declares, “I’m gonna eat them all at once,” while stuffing them in, there’s a lot more playing than eating going on. Readers will wonder whether Mom, off-page, supplies more, or perhaps the children pick them for themselves, as the cherries seem not to run out, at least not permanently, and they take a lot of punishment. The fruits are used as pretend medals, ammunition in toy cannon, pie filling, and—in a perfectly childlike moment—tiny pretend breasts, among other deployments. The children move beyond stereotypical gendered play to creative endeavors, harmoniously cooperative in their absorption.

Painterly figures against plenty of white space—and those gorgeous, red cherries—invite readers into their own fruit-fueled fantasies. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: June 14, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-59270-222-0

Page Count: 56

Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books

Review Posted Online: April 30, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2017

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PAPA DOESN'T DO ANYTHING!

A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.

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In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.

Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.

A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: May 13, 2025

ISBN: 9781250393975

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

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

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