(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Moran. A friendly, toothy T. Rex, who pops out at birthdays, holidays, and school plays, can’t figure out why humans aren’t happier to see the “Surprise Dinosaur.” After one too many unexpected appearances, the dinosaur reluctantly agrees to be a statue at the natural history museum. But there are more surprises in store. The eager dinosaur’s efforts to deliver “fun surprises” are comically reflected in the expressive, digital cartoon illustrations.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(2) K-3 Illustrated by John Parra. "Sometimes it felt like the whole world was a parade, performing right outside Eloisa's musical window." Eloísa is grateful for la musica -- usually consisting of a neighbor's radio and other sounds from the street -- and the cheer it brings in this picture book set in a historical Cuba. Her mother is sick, and the only treatment the doctor recommends is "soup, soup, and more soup." When an impromptu live band forms outside the window one day, Eloísa's mother suddenly feels strong enough to walk outside cautiously to listen to the growing fiesta. Engle's lyrical text describes noises from the neighborhood animals and the traditional Cuban instruments the musicians play. Parra's (illustrator of Spanish Is the Language of My Family, rev. 7/23) distinctive hand-painted and digitally collaged art features characters with different skin tones and uses a pleasantly washed-out palette for backgrounds. Music is represented by floating notes as well as blue and red ribbons and starbursts (perhaps a nod to the Cuban flag). An author's note provides some much-needed context about the real-life experience with illness that inspired the story; a glossary of Cuban instruments is also appended. Concurrently published in Spanish as Eloísa y su ventanita musical.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jerry Jordan. Johnson's compelling text tells the inspirational true story of a Black suffragist who fought injustice all her life. This biography of Wells begins with her birth in 1862, a year before the Emancipation Proclamation freed her parents. The Fifteenth Amendment nominally enfranchised Black men, but after Ida's father voted for the first time, his white boss fired him, which led him to open his own business, Wells's Carpentry. At sixteen, Ida lost her parents and younger brother to yellow fever, and she began teaching and pursuing an education to support her siblings. Wells refused to accept discriminatory laws or the racist treatment of Black citizens on public transportation and fought against the brutal practice of lynching. The last half of the book focuses on her suffrage work, including her founding of the Alpha Suffrage Club and participation in the 1913 march of the National American Woman Suffrage Association -- an association that fought exclusively for white women's suffrage. Wells and other women of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, including Mary Church Terrell, participated to show that they, too, required the vote. Jordan's skillfully crafted oil on cloth illustrations effectively capture the historical era in which Wells lived and the determination she showed regardless of the challenge. The detailed back matter -- including an author's note, a timeline, photographs, and source notes -- offers readers ample resources for learning more about a person and history that all young people should know.

Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail. his captivating ode to weekly gatherings of friends and extended family brims with affection for foods, activities, and traditions shared by a loving, large group crowded together in the narrator's home. Mepani revels in specific references to Gujarati Indian culture within an immigrant experience in an Anglophone country. Young Meena, with her precocious, fierce perspective, is the star of the story. Beginning with early-morning chai, Meena narrates shopping and meal preparations overseen by her mother, greeting beloved cousins and other guests, watching Bollywood films and dancing, and finally enjoying a splendid feast. All the while, she questions strict gender norms, notes the tightly knit fabric of her community, and offers matter-of-fact commentary on her bicultural, bilingual experience. It's a testament to Mepani's writerly chops that such reflections feel integral to the storytelling and never tacked on; illustrator Ismail meets and enhances this achievement. Busy, vibrant mixed-media pictures of Meena and her friends and family bear stylistic resemblance to Bob Graham's, Helen Oxenbury's, and Quentin Blake's work but are entirely Ismail's own. An excellent pick for any day of the week.

Reviewer: Megan Dowd Lambert | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024

(3) K-3 After receiving a party invitation, Dora declares parties are “too loud and too busy.” The young girl thinks of several outrageous reasons to give for declining (a gorilla stealing her party outfit; a frog eating her shoe), but at her mom’s urging, she reluctantly attends. She finds the event chaotic, but when she meets another child with similar feelings, they find a quiet spot to enjoy the fun. Humorous and expressive hand-drawn and digital illustrations enhance a realistic portrayal of an introverted child’s feelings about socializing.

Reviewer:

(2) K-3 When this book's fictional young narrator experiences a moment of recognition between herself and the self-portrait of American modernist painter Florine Stettheimer (1871–1944), she is compelled to learn more about the painter's life and art. Born to a Jewish family, Stettheimer grows up in Rochester, New York; spends time in Europe; and eventually settles in New York City with her mother and sisters. She dedicates her time to painting, set design, and throwing parties attended by such notables of the art and literary world as Marcel Duchamp and Carl Van Vechten. The book hints at Stettheimer's feminism and nonconformity: she lounges around in white silk pants (no dresses or skirts here!), commits herself to her art, and creates paintings that "look like jazz"; their bold uses of colors, levitating bodies, and swaying buildings "danced and sang on a canvas." Stettheimer's art inspires the narrator to throw a party in the artist's honor and to see her own world with the eyes of an artist. Mixed-media and digital print illustrations copy Stettheimer's sense of style and whimsical aesthetic, while reproductions of the artist's four Cathedrals paintings can be found on the front and back endpapers. An author's note provides more details about Stettheimer's life and places her work within a larger conversation about art history.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) YA Seventeen-year-old Lucia Cruz loves the consistency of her daily routine. During a trip to San Diego for her cousin's debut -- a traditional Filipino coming-of-age party in which Luz has no interest -- her world is turned on its head. Her best friend, Esme, reveals her discontent with their customary patterns, and Luz finds out that her mom has been planning her debut, complete with an Eighteen Roses ceremony, behind her back. She returns home to contend with the possibility of trying new things, connecting with classmates besides Esme, and cobbling together an extravagant birthday celebration. Throughout Luz's last year of high school, Rogers sheds light on the overwhelming nature of self-discovery as well as the messiness of conflict between friends and of complicated families (Luz and her younger sister begrudgingly split their time between their Filipina mom and white dad, who is remarried to a younger, now-pregnant Filipina woman). Many of the protagonist's critical observations are based on fear and anxiety and, as it turns out, can be transformed into humor. Despite feeling abandoned by Esme, Luz manages to develop connections with classmates through a stand-up comedy club. And with the power of TikTok, she puts together a unique Eighteen Roses ceremony that fits her personality and style. While she often feels powerless, Luz's courage allows her to build unexpected connections, self-confidence, and community.

Reviewer: Gabi K. Huesca | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(2) 4-6 After eleven-year-old Amra's brother's death from complications of Marfan syndrome, her mother's remedy for Amra's grief is to arrange for her cousin Zana to spend summers with Amra in Bihac, Bosnia. This vividly told and moving memoir takes place over three consecutive summers in the years leading up to the Bosnian Genocide (preceding the events of The Cat I Never Named, rev. 1/21). The first summer of romantic crushes and days spent lazing on the banks of the River Una helps Amra to heal. "I am ancient in the ways of trauma...but [Zana] shows me another way of being." A sense of impending violence, however, undergirds the book's carefree summer setting as simmering political and sectarian tensions slowly heat up. Tata (her father) is detained, interrogated, and loses his job, while anti-Muslim sentiments become more freely voiced. An author's note provides a timeline for the Bosnian Genocide along with a "where they are now" update. The book smartly contrasts more lighthearted preteen drama with looming ethnic and religious tensions, resulting in an engaging reflection on disability and ethnic difference.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) PS Sharing a cinnamon bun, watering a flower, gazing at the starry sky: these small happy moments and more make up the fabric of everyday love between children and caregivers in this appealing counting book. On each spread, a brightly painted numeral sits in the center of the verso, surrounded by delicately drawn, countable images (a single cinnamon bun, seven twinkling stars, etc.). On the opposite page, a rhyming couplet accompanies an engaging gouache and ink illustration; each vignette depicts a different child and grown-up pair absorbed in a gentle, playful interaction. The patterned text and warm, carefully composed imagery create a steady, cadenced movement from one to ten. In the final pages, before Schwartz reaches her finale -- "I love you...ten!" -- the nine children are reintroduced before they gather at the tenth child's home for a toddler party, where heart-shaped cookies are served. Adorable? Absolutely, but the late Schwartz's unfussy art style and keen eye for the tender, intimate scenes of a young child's life feel decidedly sweet rather than saccharine. This simple read is ideal for sharing in a lap with the youngest readers and pre-readers -- especially fans of Karen Katz or Meyers and Frazee's Everywhere Babies (rev. 5/01).

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(3) K-3 Narrator Lana tells dog Lemon (who is apprehensive...or is the apprehension really Lana’s?) what hosting a party will be like. The predictions seem outlandish, but a vampire, an octopus, and others foreshadowed by Lana’s toys show up and have a lovely time. A welcome mix of silliness and reassurance, with bold mixed-media illustrations complementing the cheery feel. Invitations and then thank-you notes add interest to the endpapers.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(1) K-3 I Like to Read: Comics series. Emberley's crew of critters (I Did It!, rev. 9/22) returns for another exciting early-reader comic. This fast-paced story begins before its title page with a caped reptile launching a paper airplane. The plane's circuitous flight crosses two pages and multiple panels and ends at our friendly monster, toy elephant, masked raccoon, shimmery robot, and tiny penguin. It's a party invitation, inspiring the friends to immediately take off for the bash with a collective "LET'S GO!" A series of setbacks (from fatigue to snow to large bodies of water) impedes the crew's progress; however, cooperation and creative problem-solving prevail. The creatures use scraps of paper torn from the very pages of the book they are in to create skis, boats, and more and continue their journey. Emberley's cartooning is complex and compelling, while the dialogue-only text is intentionally repetitive and charismatic. Energetic pencil illustrations convey a strong sense of animation between fluctuating panel configurations and page layouts. The digital coloring is expressive, shifting between modeled realism and completely flat blocks of color--signaling shifts in tone, time, and/or setting. Imaginative, playful, and deceptively unassuming, this comic for early readers serves as a respectful (and exceedingly entertaining) introduction to the comics format.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(2) PS OHora (Sonny Says "Mine!", rev. 9/21; Fuzzy, Inside & Out) employs his signature bold outlines and vibrant acrylic colors in this rollicking story of shaggy gray dog-child Elise and the adoring little sister, Rosemont, who emulates her every move. Elise usually likes to spend time with her sibling, but she cannot stand being copied. When Elise dresses as a pickle on Halloween, Rosemont dons a cornichon costume. When Elise wears ribbons or learns to play the sousaphone, guess who does the same? Rosemont even takes credit for the cookie soup Elise invented. OHora throws in funny visual gags during these scenes of comical distress. A black cat reacts in shock to Rosemont's Halloween outfit. Tiny Rosemont plays her sousaphone inside Elise's larger instrument. Making cookie soup also means making quite a mess. The book uses some comics conventions, including occasional panels; the irregular shape of some speech bubbles reflects the turbulent emotions Elise feels. Things reach a crisis point at a friend's birthday party: Rosemont not only crashes the celebration, but also copies Elise's gift of a homemade rainstick (instructions appended). Elise angrily leaves the event, but Rosemont comes to her aid. An enjoyable, storytime-ready, sibling-themed romp.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(2) PS Step into the monstrous, cheesy fun with an invitation to, you guessed it, a monster mac and cheese party with "no humans allowed." Parr keeps listeners involved with direct questions and choices--they get to decide what dish they would bring, and whether they would eat some of the monsters' creations. (Mac and cheese with stinky socks, anyone?) Finally, two humans arrive with their own (boxed!) contribution, and the monsters agree to let them join. Parr's signature bold lines and bright colors keep viewers' eyes wide and their minds engaged as he creates a lively book with a strong message: in the end, everyone is welcome. Two of his favorite recipes are included in the back matter.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) PS Illustrated by Raúl Colón. Reich offers up a rhythmic, rhyming celebration of family, particularly the family's youngest member: "Call the guests to gather round, / grab a chair and take a seat. / Baby's fussing, must be hungry. / Hurry up, it's time to eat!" While this multiethnic, multiracial extended family cooks a special meal of enchiladas, ravioli, and black-eyed peas, they pass the baby from person to person--hugging, playing, and bouncing. The illustrations have their own rhythm, flipping from left to right on consecutive spreads with periodic full-bleed crowd scenes that encourage lingering. The kaleidoscopic use of color and layering of media lend depth, emphasizing the family's love and joy. Details such as Doggie scarfing up crumbs, a picture knocked askew, and Grandma looking irritated capture a mildly controlled chaos that will be familiar to many readers. It's lovely, too, to see the family gathering for no particular reason other than to be together. When the coffee spills and Baby dumps the sugar bowl on her doll's head, dinner has reached its inevitable conclusion. "Everybody grab a napkin. / Baby's made a great big mess!" The adults are done in, struggling to keep their eyes open, but Baby's ready for another helping.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey & Jarrett Pumphrey. An intriguing photograph of writers Maya Angelou and Amiri Baraka dancing at a party at the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is the springboard for Reynolds's first (traditional) picture book. In 1991, people in Harlem gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Langston Hughes Auditorium and the literary brilliance of its namesake. At the "fancy-foot, get-down, all-out bash," guests boogie to the beats and bops of music as renowned word-makers are pictured leaning in from the spines of books on the shelves, captivated by the dazzling whirlwind of excitement. The master poet, Langston Hughes, was called "the 'word-making king.'" He "could make the word America look like two friends making pinky promises to be cool, to be true" and turn words into laughter, "bringing joy to the little and the big." In his own evocative and kinetic style of word-making, Reynolds exudes reverence for Langston and the festive tempo of the occasion. The Pumphreys' vibrant illustrations, created with digitized handmade stamps, extend the theme of wordsmithing in creative interpretations of text, as in the double-page spread of Angelou and Baraka dancing with the letters of their first names forming the shape of their bodies. A jubilant tribute to the enduring legacy of one of the most prominent voices of the Harlem Renaissance and others whom he has inspired.

Reviewer: Pauletta Brown Bracy | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(2) K-3 This hide-and-seek story begins: "Tiny was giving a big party. But where was Bina Bear?" Thereafter the drama plays out through simple, comical dialogue ("'Bina? Is that you?' 'No. I am a table'") and cartoon illustrations. Bina, a large blue bear, attempts to avoid the party by disguising herself as inanimate objects--a chair, groceries. While Tiny (a small bunny) searches, the bright art showcases Bina's amusing contortions. Meanwhile, the characters' expressive faces and gestures capture their vulnerability and affection for each other. After hearing that Tiny misses seeing her, Bina opens one eye as though she may stop pretending to be a chair and finally show herself. When her friend asks if she's okay, Bina claims to be fine but sheds a tear. In the end, Bina is able to come out from hiding and tell Tiny how she really feels about parties...but also how she feels about Tiny, and so the two pretend to be lamps together in the kitchen while the party goes on without them. This warm and comforting look at friendship offers meaningful insight into the value of support and of acceptance.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(1) 4-6 Illustrated by Kat Fajardo & Azzi Mariana. All Sue (Suyapa Yisel to her family) Gutiérrez wants to do this summer is hang out with her Comics Club buddies at Camp Willow. But her overprotective mom has planned a family trip to Honduras to see Abuelita Rita and celebrate Sue's quinceañera--a party she never asked for and would rather skip. Feeling doomed to a boring and uninspiring summer, Sue finds that spending time with her abuelita, an artist herself, is anything but dull. Rita's consejos--advice, wisdom, and family stories--help Sue gain a new closeness to her family and learn to cherish cultural traditions. With the coming-of-age ceremony, she resolves to "be braver and embrace [her] true colors," adapting the longstanding tradition in a way that lets it remain relevant to her own life. Fajardo's deft graphic-novel paneling and expressive use of line and Azzi's color palette of cool blues and pinks convey the complexity and full range of Sue's feelings, both in important moments and in more mundane ones. An author's note, additional information about quinceañeras, and photographs are appended.

Reviewer: Lettycia Terrones | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(2) YA The morning after attending a fair run by (fictional) Faber College's fraternities, fifteen-year-old Nora wakes up on the golf course without any memory of how she got there. Her best friend, Camille, is by her side and explains that the night before, three guys removed Nora's underwear and hung it from a flagstick at the course before their classmate, Adam, chased them away. As Nora grapples with the implications of what ­happened--and what could have happened if Adam hadn't intervened--Cam and Adam decide to find out who the guys were. Their investigation leads to unsavory revelations about one of Faber's fraternities and about the college's charismatic, beloved athletic director--who is also Nora's dad. The victim-shaming that follows is depressing but familiar; the novel unflinchingly exposes the sexism inherent in excusing men's assaultive behavior while blaming women because of how they're dressed or how much they drank. More subtle but equally devastating is the fall from grace of Nora's father, "her favorite person in the world"; his refusal to accept responsibility adds a layer of trauma and makes it more difficult for Nora to speak out. Her eventual decision to formally accuse her attackers is a powerful one as she courageously reclaims her voice and her story: it's a small, satisfying step toward justice.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ruth Chan. In this comic in picture-book form, Mr. Tortoise is so old that he's forgotten how old he is, prompting his friends to become preoccupied with trying to figure out how many candles to put on his cake. Walrus suggests that Mr. Tortoise must be seven (just like him!), and Pig suggests he must be twelve because he has twelve sections on his shell. The partygoers start to quiz him on what people wore when he was young, whether he'd owned a television, etc. Chan's depictions of the characters are full of expression. Mr. Tortoise's emotions, which range from excited to thoughtful to confused to triumphant, dance across his face from panel to panel, and his friends are vibrant with enthusiasm. The book alternates between pages of panels and double-page spreads, varying the pace to the story's advantage, lingering on humorous moments and adding to a sense of things spiraling a bit out of control. Mr. Tortoise doesn't care how old he is or how many candles he has: "I'm the birthday tortoise and I would really like to have cake!" Anyone who's ever had to wait for a treat will empathize.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Daphna Awadish. Mendel loves Hanukkah but is prone to, and known for, making mistakes. He over-onions the latkes, for example, and uses sparklers in place of Hanukkah candles. "Oy, Mendel!" When Rabbi Klein asks him to drive the Mitzvah Mobile to spread the word about the big Hanukkah bash, everyone is nervous. Things go surprisingly well--at first. Details in the childlike illustrations give this community lots of personality; and Mendel's personal journey very loosely mirrors the Hanukkah story in a lighthearted way. "A Brief History of Hanukkah," a glossary, and some holiday activities are appended.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022