A triumphant and utterly inviting gustatory celebration.
A festive, multigenerational family gathering is rooted in soul food and familial love.
Big Ma and Pops wake early to begin preparing a meal that will bring everyone together from near and far. While Big Ma peels apples “for her famous pie,” Pops “dresses the fish to fry.” Throughout Weatherford’s lively, rhyming story, the refrain “Tastes like home when family meet; / a bond so warm, so strong, so sweet” gives the book a musical quality. The menu for this amazing dinner includes black-eyed peas, collard greens, rice and beans, candied yams, a pineapple-ringed ham, biscuits, cornbread muffins, and more. Joy abounds in each scene, and Morrison’s action-packed oil paintings offer a plethora of details for young readers to notice. During a scene where the family cooks together in the kitchen, youngsters will spot a visibly pregnant relative wearing a “Baby on Board” shirt, a matriarch removing a pot’s lid to sniff its contents, and a little one who can barely see over the counter giving Pops the side-eye as he salts the contents of a big bowl. Dog lovers will enjoy observing the beagle, ever hopeful for handouts. Morrison’s illustrations of this close-kit Black family highlight distinct personalities through creative clothing choices, different hair styles, dramatic facial expressions, and elongated limbs that suggest constant motion.
A triumphant and utterly inviting gustatory celebration. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2025
ISBN: 9780593898291
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
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
Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind.
When Mom and Dad bring baby Rasheed home for the first time, it’s love at first sight for big brother Anthony.
As the boys grow, Anthony teaches his little sibling how to build a tower with blocks (and how to knock it down with a loud “WHOP!!!”), how to ride a bike, and even how to fly (through a well-timed leap from the swings). When thunder and lightning wake them both one night, Anthony assuages Rasheed’s fears with the book’s titular refrain: “I got you.” But one day Anthony goes for a bike ride with his friends, leaving Rasheed alone and hurt. That night, Anthony explains that while he may spend time with his peers, his bond with Rasheed is unbreakable. And as the book comes to a close, with Mom and Dad introducing the boys to their new little sibling, Anthony leaves Rasheed with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to be a supportive big brother himself. Narrated by Rasheed, Barnes’ text is elegant in its simplicity, loving yet never saccharine, and always emotionally honest. Using varied perspectives, Knight-Justice’s richly hued, collagelike digital illustrations combine a patchwork of textures and patterns, immersing readers in this affectionate Black family’s world. Greens and blues dominate the pages, bringing to life an idyllic suburban setting.
Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9780593111451
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
