A religious centering amid the run-up to Christmas.
A day-by-day Advent adventure for families to share together.
Beginning on Dec. 1 with an introduction to the season of Advent and this book, and ending on Dec. 25 with just a short rhyme, Nellist’s text familiarizes children with the Christmas season and events ranging from Genesis’ “Let there be light” and Isaiah’s foretelling the birth of a baby to Mary’s visit with Elizabeth and the arrival of the Magi after Jesus’ birth (on Dec. 21 here). A rhyming verse starts each day’s entry. The meter and rhyme sometimes force the word order and choices and, in four entries, unfortunately and jarringly reflect the classic poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas.” The bulk of each page explains the Bible verse that follows the rhyme and humanizes the main characters: Joseph’s indecision about marrying a pregnant Mary, the job of a shepherd, and the treasure box of memories that Mary stored in her heart. The entry ends with a brief prayer: “Dear God, thank you for Mary who was so brave and trusted you. When I need to be brave, help me remember that you are with me.” Depending on their ages, children within a family may find some content too simple and some over their heads. Jewel-toned illustrations in luminous colors and lots of detail fill half of each spread. All the people, save the three Magi, are Middle Eastern in skin color, facial features, and dress. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A religious centering amid the run-up to Christmas. (Religion. 4-10)Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-310-73415-4
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Review Posted Online: Aug. 10, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
St. Patrick’s Day will never be the same; beware, though: leprechauns who aren’t caught often take revenge by making messes.
Devious young scientists, engineers, and crafters will be solidly occupied with the 16 traps, three snacks, and 10 leprechaun tricks that are described here.
Each project comes with a level of difficulty, leprechaun appeal meter, list of materials, its STEAM connection (in a separate box listing topics touched upon and extensions), and numbered steps. The STEAM connections vary widely. Too many of the early projects that involve a stick propping up a trap lid have the same STEAM connection. Later projects, including a Leprechaun Run and a Marshmallow Catapult that talk about potential and kinetic energy and a Marshmallow Bridge that is heavy on the engineering piece, have more solid STEAM connections. “Did You Know” featurettes offer fascinating facts: Ireland has more sheep than people, and leprechauns used to wear red, not green. Readers will know to call a grown-up when they see the words “adult supervision” underlined in the directions, which also include “messy alerts.” The artwork is a mix of photographs, line drawings, and cartoons. Only two completed projects are photographed; the rest are digital illustrations. While this allows kids scope for their imaginations, some may need more help with the steps than the cartoons provide (particularly with the catapult). Photos show an array of diverse children working on the projects, although the disembodied hand holding scissors shown frequently is always white.
St. Patrick’s Day will never be the same; beware, though: leprechauns who aren’t caught often take revenge by making messes. (Nonfiction. 4-10)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6388-1
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Dec. 2, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
Amid inconsistencies of format and information, the illustrations end up giving the most clarity about this festival.
Diwali, the festival of lights, a five-day celebration that has many different forms, is celebrated in different ways across India and in many other countries.
This board book cursorily presents the different rituals associated with this celebration of the Hindu New Year, including getting the house ready to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth; decorating the house with rangoli and diyas; and celebrating with family, friends, fireworks, and good food. The text is simple and gives only very basic information. “On the fifth and final day of Diwali, we celebrate brothers and sisters. The lifelong bond between siblings is special, and we honor that.” The illustrations show four different sets of siblings celebrating each other in different ways, none of which are mentioned in the text, making it difficult for younger readers to understand the complexity of the celebration. Sreenivasan’s illustrations are colorful, detailed, and authentic, and they carry the book. They feature happy and smiling dark-haired people with a range of skin tones, diverse in ethnicity and dress. In bright, vivid colors, intergenerational families and friends from different regions come alive, dressed up in their colorful best, celebrating and enjoying the festival together in different ways. The board format of this title does not match the age range and conceptual level of the text.
Amid inconsistencies of format and information, the illustrations end up giving the most clarity about this festival. (Board book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5344-1990-2
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 1, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019
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