An imperfect but valuable addition to sports-fiction collections for young readers.
A girl bucks tradition to play her favorite sport in Hoffman’s picture book.
Red-haired, pale-skinned elementary schooler Gabby loves American football. She wants to play on her own local team, but she can only watch from afar while others participate. Her brother tells her that only boys can play the sport, and her mom worries that she’ll get hurt. However, her dad encourages her to sign up for the local boys’ team: “You have big dreams,” he says. “You aren’t meant to sit on the sidelines. You were born to shine!” At Gabby’s first game, she’s the only girl on the team. This makes her nervous, but she does her best to overcome her anxiety by remembering her dad’s encouraging words. During the big game, she gets a chance to make a pivotal contribution to her team. This inspiring story for young feminists is Hoffman’s latest work after the second edition of The Self-Love Book (2023). Mello’s illustrations will sweep readers away as they break format conventions and splash across the page, and Hoffman’s writing matches their enthusiasm. However, the book could have included more of Gabby’s teammates’ reactions to her presence. Also, the big game seems to happen immediately without any practices first, which makes the timeline somewhat confusing.
An imperfect but valuable addition to sports-fiction collections for young readers.Pub Date: June 11, 2024
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.” (Picture book. 4-8)
Bewitched by the rhythms of jazz all around her in Depression-era Kansas City, little Melba Doretta Liston longs to make music in this fictional account of a little-known jazz great.
Picking up the trombone at 7, the little girl teaches herself to play with the support of her Grandpa John and Momma Lucille, performing on the radio at 8 and touring as a pro at just 17. Both text and illustrations make it clear that it’s not all easy for Melba; “The Best Service for WHITES ONLY” reads a sign in a hotel window as the narrative describes a bigotry-plagued tour in the South with Billie Holiday. But joy carries the day, and the story ends on a high note, with Melba “dazzling audiences and making headlines” around the world. Russell-Brown’s debut text has an innate musicality, mixing judicious use of onomatopoeia with often sonorous prose. Morrison’s sinuous, exaggerated lines are the perfect match for Melba’s story; she puts her entire body into her playing, the exaggerated arch of her back and thrust of her shoulders mirroring the curves of her instrument. In one thrilling spread, the evening gown–clad instrumentalist stands over the male musicians, her slide crossing the gutter while the back bow disappears off the page to the left. An impressive discography complements a two-page afterword and a thorough bibliography.
Readers will agree that “Melba Doretta Liston was something special.” (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-60060-898-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2014
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