A warm introduction to a culturally rich borough.
An Afro–Puerto Rican child explores the Bronx.
Santiago likes to visit the four other New York boroughs but is proud to say “The Bronx is my home.” With Mami, a teacher, Santiago spends one Saturday traveling to different sites around the borough that they love. They delight in the ordinary, like riding the subway and catching glimpses of the people below and stopping by Santiago’s godfather’s food truck. Santiago and Mami visit the Bronx Equestrian Center and see lions and butterflies at the Bronx Zoo. They hike the Siwanoy Trail, splash their feet in the waves at Orchard Beach, and eat Italian food on Arthur Avenue before crossing the historic High Bridge to spend the night at Abuela’s house. The childlike observations effectively draw readers into Santiago’s day, and the story serves as a satisfying introduction to an experience of fun urban living. Spanish phrases are incorporated into the dialogue between Santiago and Mami. Nods to local heroes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sonia Sotomayor are seamlessly worked in; facts about landmarks feel a bit forced and are most likely to appeal to those already familiar with the Bronx. Holt’s animation-style illustrations lend energy to the sweet relationships and diverse communities depicted. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A warm introduction to a culturally rich borough. (author’s and illustrator’s notes, bibliography) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 24, 2023
ISBN: 9780316397735
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...
Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.
The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 21, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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