A heartfelt celebration of sisterhood and culture, seen through the eyes of an enthusiastic younger sibling.
Ellie’s big sister, Isabella, is about to celebrate her quinceañera.
The milestone is a special event marking a girl’s 15th birthday and her transition into womanhood, observed in Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines. Although Isabella is 10 years older than Ellie, the two are best friends. Both sisters are excited about the quinceañera, but Isabella confides that she’s also nervous. As Isabella is whisked away to get ready for the celebration, Ellie is left behind, eager to help prepare for the party but struggling to find a job she can do at her age—flower arranging proves too difficult, and the cake is far too delicate for Ellie to help decorate. When the party begins, Ellie is awestruck by her sister’s elegance, although Isabella’s busy schedule keeps them apart. Unexpectedly, in a touching moment, Isabella publicly expresses her love for Ellie and invites her to share a special dance, making the evening unforgettable. This well-crafted narrative weaves together themes of sisterly love and the community’s role in celebrating a young person’s coming of age. The customs and traditions of the quinceañera shine in this warm family tale, and children who are much younger than their big siblings will relate to Ellie’s earnest desire to be included in the festivities. Dominated by pinks and reds, the illustrations are suffused with a soft glow. The family is Latine.
A heartfelt celebration of sisterhood and culture, seen through the eyes of an enthusiastic younger sibling. (information on quinceañeras) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 15, 2025
ISBN: 9781338894950
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
Sugary uplift, shrink-wrapped for the masses.
An elusive new quarry leads the How To Catch… kids on a merry chase through a natural history museum.
Taking at least a step away from the “hunters versus prey” vibe of previous entries in the popular series, the racially diverse group of young visitors dashes through various museum halls in pursuit of the eponymous dino—whose quest to “spread kindness and joy ’round the world” takes the form of a mildly tumultuous museum tour. In most of Elkerton’s overly sweet, color-saturated scenes, only portions of the Loveosaurus, who is purple and covered with pink hearts, are visible behind exhibits or lumbering off the page. But the children find small enticements left behind, from craft supplies to make cards for endangered species to pictures of smiley faces, candy heart–style personal notes (“You Rock!” “Give Hugs”), and, in the hall of medieval arms and armor, a sign urging them to “Be Honest Be Kind.” The somewhat heavy-handed lesson comes through loud and clear. “There’s a message, he wants us to think,” hints Walstead to clue in more obtuse readers…and concluding scenes of smiling people young and otherwise exchanging hugs and knuckle bumps, holding doors for a wheelchair rider, and dancing through clouds of sparkles indicate that they, at least, have gotten it. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Sugary uplift, shrink-wrapped for the masses. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 9781728268781
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 17, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This multigenerational snuggle will encourage the sharing of old memories and the creation of new ones.
Hill and Bobbiesi send a humungous hug from grandmothers to their granddaughters everywhere.
Delicate cartoon art adds details to the rhyming text showing multigenerational commonalities. “You and I are alike in such wonderful ways. / You will see more and more as you grow” (as grandmother and granddaughter enjoy the backyard together); “I wobbled uncertainly just as you did / whenever I tried something new” (as a toddler takes first steps); “And if a bad dream woke me up in the night, / I snuggled up with my lovey too” (grandmother kisses granddaughter, who clutches a plush narwhal). Grandmother-granddaughter pairs share everyday joys like eating ice cream, dancing “in the rain,” and making “up silly games.” Although some activities skew stereotypically feminine (baking, yoga), a grandmother helps with a quintessential volcano experiment (this pair presents black, adding valuable STEM representation), another cheers on a young wheelchair athlete (both present Asian), and a third, wearing a hijab, accompanies her brown-skinned granddaughter on a peace march, as it is “important to speak out for what you believe.” The message of unconditional love is clear throughout: “When you need me, I’ll be there to listen and care. / There is nothing that keeps us apart.” The finished book will include “stationery…for a special letter from Grandma to you!”
This multigenerational snuggle will encourage the sharing of old memories and the creation of new ones. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7282-0623-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2020
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