An account of a life creatively encapsulated in treasured items, though likely to speak more to adult readers than to kids.
Generational lore takes a front seat in this tale of a grandmother’s life and keepsakes.
A grandchild with long blond hair enjoys spending time with Grandmother, referred to as Alice. Best of all is when Alice brings out a box of “special things.” Each one has a story; together, they help piece together the elder’s life “before she was my grandmother.” As a child, Alice was often ill. Due to her stiff joints, she used a wheelchair and often played and read alone. Her parents sent her across the sea to Switzerland to a “stone hospital filled with children just like her.” After Alice recovered, she grew up, started a family, and eventually became a grandmother. With a quick look back at the box’s contents, readers can identify the key components of Alice’s young life, from an owl carved from a walnut shell (a gift from her sisters) to the paintings she created while recuperating. Potter’s flattened painterly style complements her narrative’s gently contemplative tone. Adults will easily make connections between Alice’s possessions and the life she lived—and will readily appreciate this tribute to a life well lived—though the story’s a shade subtle for younger readers. The book concludes with the suggestion that perhaps the grandchild might someday make a memory box, too; teachers seeking ideas for original projects will find inspiration here. Most characters present white.
An account of a life creatively encapsulated in treasured items, though likely to speak more to adult readers than to kids. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 12, 2025
ISBN: 9781592704316
Page Count: 52
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 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
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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