A Covid-19 story that doesn’t quite translate.
Paul and Maisie are stuck inside, and when Paul comments that their 600-inch-long home would feel pretty big to an ant, they find themselves shrinking.
In this Chinese import set during an unnamed public-health emergency that parallels the Covid-19 pandemic, readers can see empty streets out the window, figures in hazmat suits on TV, and the very recognizable boredom of two youngsters at home. So becoming tiny poses a grand adventure: Aunt Michelle will be arriving with lunch soon, and they need to cross 600 inches of landscape to reach the door. On the way, they encounter the Mouse King (who offers them masks), drive a toy car, and discover the Lost Toy Park under the sofa. Here the tone of the book shifts: Readers learn that the children’s mother has been gone for 10 days and that both parents are in the hospital. When the phone rings and it is Dad, depicted masked and in street clothes, surrounded by people in hazmat suits, readers breathe a sigh of relief: Dad and Mom may just work in the hospital. Yet the children seem completely alone, with both parents gone and a busy aunt who quickly drops off some food but doesn’t have time to stay. While the shrinking premise is fun and the poignancy of missing loved ones is handled sensitively, the situation may still cause young readers more uneasiness than comfort. Human characters depicted are Asian.
A Covid-19 story that doesn’t quite translate. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 20, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-64074-120-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Cardinal Media
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
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 good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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