Imaginative new-sibling fun.
Jimmy becomes a superhero and conquers his archnemesis.
Upon hearing a loud, terrible howling, Jimmy rushes through a secret door into a secret elevator and down to the lowest level of his home, where he transforms himself into the formidable Kid Amazing. He arms himself with an array of gadgets and heads toward danger. Encountering a terrible odor in the Blob’s lair, he quickly uses his trusty “de-stinking spray” and nullifies that problem. When he reaches the dreaded villain, he finds the hidden “howl neutralizer,” and magically all is calm. He applies to the Commissioner for approval and a cookie, making an (unrealistically) optimistic prediction that there will be no more trouble from the Blob. Of course readers will quickly suss out that Kid Amazing’s adventures involve an annoying baby sibling and a very patient mom. (All are white.) Schneider’s take on the new-baby syndrome is fun and inventive. Kid is admirably willing to help his mom with this blobby creature and applies great care and cunning in his machinations, all cleverly depicted in lively pen-and-ink–and-watercolor illustrations. However, Kid’s costume elements and accouterments are explained in small blue and white insets, interrupting the flow of the tale and employing syntax that is at a more sophisticated level than the main text; while adults reading with children will get a chuckle, they may leave actual children behind.
Imaginative new-sibling fun. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 6, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-544-80125-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.
Another creature is on the loose.
The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781728274300
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
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
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