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Ismail, Yasmeen
5 Reviews
(3)
PS
Lila's mom asks the little hedgehog-looking creature, "What are you doing?" Lila answers, "Nothing." In Lila's mind, however, she is off on a series of exciting adventures. Her grandpa understands and joins in, much to Lila's delight. Energetic, loose watercolors work well with the simple text in this lively celebration of imaginary play.
Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee
(3)
PS
The protagonist's self-affirmations proudly declare her limitless potential and varied interests because of (not despite) her being a girl. Even when other characters interject with negative gender stereotypes, or mistake her for a boy because of her interests and habits, our heroine is undeterred. Watercolor paintings enliven the simple, repetitive text in this story about building self-confidence and subverting gender norms.
Reviewer: Lauren Causey
(3)
K-3
Talkative, bossy rabbit Greta feels her younger sister, Gracie, is too little, too quiet, and too slow. But these qualities come in handy on Christmas Eve when Gracie helps Santa while Greta sleeps. Bright, cheerful digital illustrations show the sisters busy with holiday preparations, and colored speech bubbles delineate speakers; on the last page, Greta is--finally, satisfyingly--speechless.
Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan
(4)
K-3
"Rex did NOT like his specs...AT ALL!" Loosely rendered, borderline-abstract watercolor illustrations depict Rex, an animal character, unhappily coping with his new eyeglasses at home and at school. Rex turns the corner when he locates his teacher's whistle and gains his classmates' admiration. This is a didactic but adequately entertaining introduction to the subject of kids getting glasses.
Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty
(3)
PS
It's eight o'clock: shaggy dog Fred's bedtime. Loosely rendered watercolor illustrations picture Fred on the move, anywhere but bed. Impressive double-page spreads show the pup nestled in a colorful flower patch, plunging headlong into a mud puddle, and shaking off after a bath before an eventual cozy concession. A satisfying, endearing bedtime story with lots of action and minimal, accessible text.
Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty
5 reviews
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