A timely nod to female empowerment that knits together generations of girls and women and raises a hat to activists...
Knitting and stylish headwear frame the 2017 Women’s March in a new light for young readers.
Lina is confused. Her grandmother owns scads of pink yarn yet insists that they go out and buy even more. The shade of pink Grandma requires is a “grown-up pink” necessary to make the pussyhats she’s knitting for family, friends, and strangers in preparation for the upcoming Women’s March. As Lina learns how to knit a hat of her own, her dad explains the significance of the headgear, her mother imparts knowledge about feminist movements to her and her brother, and Grandma shares her experiences participating in past women’s rights protests. Lina isn’t sure her small voice can make a difference in the struggle, but when she and her family attend the historic march, she becomes emboldened to work even harder for positive change. Newell DePalma’s deft and creative mixed-media illustrations incorporate appliqués of real-life pussyhats that showcase meticulous stitchwork. A single pink piece of yarn weaves and winds between the feet of the characters, drawing them forward toward the march and beyond. Knitting metaphors are worked into the text, such as when Lina suggests that she and her grandmother loop elbows at the march, “like we are knitting.” A closing author’s note gives background and context to the 2017 global demonstration. All main characters present as White.
A timely nod to female empowerment that knits together generations of girls and women and raises a hat to activists everywhere. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-7624-7389-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Review Posted Online: Dec. 2, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2021
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
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children.
Interior decorator and TV personality Gaines invites readers to open their eyes and exercise their imaginations.
There’s a world to be explored out there—and only children can really take part. What does “looking for wonder” entail? Slowing down and looking up, around, and everywhere. At the outset, a group of eager, racially diverse young friends—including one who uses a wheelchair—are fully prepared for a grand adventure. They offer tips about how and where to look: Why, there’s a “grand parade” of marching ants! And, these kids add, perspective is key. A rainy day might signal gloom to some, but to those filled with wonder, showers bring “magic puddles for play”; a forest is “an enchanted world,” the ocean conceals “a spectacular city,” and the night sky boasts “extraordinary sights.” The takeaway: “Wonder is never in short supply.” It’s a robust, empowering message, as is the exhortation to “keep your mind open, and let curiosity guide the way.” Youngsters are also advised to share their discoveries. The upbeat narrative is delivered in clunky verse, but the colorful cartoonish illustrations brimming with activity and good cheer (including some adorable anthropomorphized animals in the backgrounds) make up for the textual lapses and should motivate readers to embark on their own “wonder explorations.”
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9781400247417
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tommy Nelson
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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