SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: Willow the White House Cat
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.kateberube.com/
CITY: Portland
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 314
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in CT; married, husband named Mark; children.
EDUCATION:School of the Art Institute of Chicago, B.F.A., 2000.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author and illustrator. Worked variously as a tax preparer, nanny, bookseller, and decorative and scene painter.
MEMBER:Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
AWARDS:Marion Vannett Ridgway Award, 2017, for Hannah and Sugar.
WRITINGS
Creator of children’s zine Tater Totter, Microcosm Publishing.
SIDELIGHTS
[open new]Kate Berube is a children’s book author and illustrator with a knack for encouraging readers to face down their fears and make the most of life. She was raised in small-town Connecticut and enjoyed visiting New England beaches, especially Cape Cod, with her family. After high school she earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her favorite painters include Rembrandt, Matisse, Cezanne, Degas, Monet, Van Gogh, Giacometti, and Basquiat. Berube had the unusual and difficult experience of enduring thyroid cancer when she was just twenty-three. Cued to the brevity of existence, she determined to spend her life doing what she found fulfilling.
About her creative trajectory, Berube told KidLit 411: “For many years I was a fine artist and painted in oils. I also was a decorative painter … painting intricate stenciled patterns on walls and ceilings. When I moved to Portland, Oregon, I started nannying to make ends meet and I rediscovered my love of children’s books. I had been increasingly unsatisfied with fine art and I was thrilled to discover a more satisfying outlet for my art.” Thenceforth she devoted herself to taking classes, practicing her craft, and drafting stories. Her odd jobs included working in the children’s section at Powell’s Books, and she also started a family. A decade and a half after moving west Berube published her first picture book, the self-illustrated Hannah and Sugar. Inspired by a beloved family dog, the title earned her the Marion Vannett Ridgway Award for an outstanding children’s debut.
Young Hannah always sees a neighbor’s friendly dog, Sugar, at the bus stop, but she is too afraid to approach and pet the dog like everyone else. When Sugar goes missing, Hannah is sympathetically sitting outside in the evening when she hears whimpering from behind a bush. Seeing Sugar’s leash is caught and tangled, Hannah musters the courage to make a friend and save the day. A Publishers Weekly reviewer called Berube’s “marvelous” debut an “achingly authentic story of fear conquered.” The reviewer praised the “emotionally astute watercolors” and “impressively concise voice” and hailed Berube as a “wonderful new talent.” Paige Garrison in School Library Journal appreciated how the book “encourages children to overcome their fears and do the right thing,” and a Kirkus Reviews writer called Hannah and Sugar a “sweet tale with a satisfying ending.”
Berube’s next self-illustrated picture book is Mae’s First Day of School. Focused on all the things that could go wrong—possibly not being liked, being the only one unable to write, missing her mother—Mae cannot stop her parents from getting her to school, but she can climb a tree as soon as she gets there. Pondering never going to school, perhaps never climbing down, Mae is suprised to be joined up in the tree by Rosie, who feels just the same way. They are both surprised to be joined by tall Ms. Pearl, who is worried about impressing her students, misspelling Tuesday, and missing her cat. Finally feeling better together, all three climb down. Enjoying the “lighthearted” text, “silly” scenario, and “reassuring” message, School Library Journal reviewer Laken Hottle appreciated how the story “doesn’t trivialize” the girls’ fears and “takes time to affirm the bravery necessary to take a big step.” A Kirkus Reviews writer found in Mae’s First Day of School a “sweet affirmation of jitters and comfort in numbers.”
The first book Berube illustrated for another author was The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read, by Curtis Manley, about a boy who goes to creative lengths to help his reluctant reader of a cat appreciate story time. A Kirkus Reviews writer affirmed that Berube’s “charmingly childlike” ink-and-paint artwork “captures the cats’ personalities perfectly and creates a cozy, everyday world with just enough amusing details.” In The Sandcastle That Lola Built, by Megan Maynor, one girl’s sandcastle-building effort is gradually joined by a bevy of kids who help make something grand, if evanescent. A Kirkus Reviews writer observed that Berube’s mixed-media and collage illustrations “add visual humor and interest with their expressive depictions … and background detail.” John’s Turn, by Mac Barnett, in which a boy dares to share his talent for dancing at the end of Friday assembly, led a Publishers Weekly reviewer to admire Berube’s “graceful illustrations,” especially a “breathlessly kinetic” sequence where “spreads show John turning, leaping, and landing, light as a feather.”
First Lady Jill Biden teamed up with coauthor Alyssa Satin Capucilli to write Willow the White House Cat, illustrated by Berube with ink and acrylics. A visit to a farm ends with Jill Biden taking a gray tiger kitten home to live in the White House. Welcomed by President Joe Biden, Willow takes a tour of her new territory that ends with some warm snuggling. Enjoying the fresh perspectives of famous spaces like the Red Room and Oval Office, a Publishers Weekly reviewer hailed Willow the White House Cat as a “quietly lovely portrait of a landmark through feline eyes.”[close new]
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Horn Book Guide, fall, 2016, Martha V. Parravano, review of Hannah and Sugar, p. 27.
Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2016, review of Hannah and Sugar; May 1, 2016, review of The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read; March 1, 2017, review of My Little Half-Moon; March 1, 2018, review of The Sandcastle That Lola Built; June 1, 2018, review of Mae’s First Day of School; July 15, 2020, review of Second Banana;
Publishers Weekly, January 4, 2016, review of Hannah and Sugar, p. 51; April 18, 2016, review of The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read, p. 115; January 10, 2022, review of John’s Turn, p. 60; July 15, 2024, review of Willow the White House Cat, p. 97.
School Library Journal, March, 2016, Paige Garrison, review of Hannah and Sugar, p. 102; June, 2016, Brooke Newberry, review of The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read, p. 81.
ONLINE
Kate Berube website, http://www.kateberube.com (March 7, 2025).
KidLit 411, https://www.kidlit411.com/ (May 25, 2018), “Illustrator Spotlight: Kate Berube.”
Publishers Weekly, http://www.publishersweekly.com/ (March 7, 2025), review of Mae’s First Day of School.
School Library Journal, https://www.slj.com/ (August 1, 2018), Laken Hottle, review of Mae’s First Day of School.
This Picture Book Life, https://thispicturebooklife.com/ (April 5, 2016), “Hannah and Sugar + an Interview with Kate Berube.”
Kate Berube (Bear uh bee) grew up in a cow-filled Connecticut town where she dreamed of being an artist. She earned her BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and spent a semester studying in Paris. Like many artists, though, her career trajectory wasn't a straight line – along the way she was a nanny, a tax preparer, a scenic painter, a decorative painter, and a bookseller (at celebrated Powell’s Books). Portland is where she now makes her home with her husband and children.
In 2013, Kate was featured on the blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, in an ‘Up-and-Coming Illustrator’ post. Publishers Weekly named Kate a spring 2016 ‘Flying Start’ and she now has seven picture books published with more on the way. Her work has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, The Horn Book, and Bookpage and has been on multiple ‘best book’ lists, including Chicago Public Library, SLJ and All the Wonders.
Kate's authorial debut, HANNAH AND SUGAR, was reviewed in the Wall Street Journal, was a CCBC Charlotte Zolotow Highly Recommended Title, a Parent’s Choice ’16, shortlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize, and won the Marion Vannett Ridgway Award and the Oregon Book Award for Children's Literature.
THE SUMMER NICK TAUGHT HIS CATS TO READ was a CLEL Bell Award winner. THE SANDCASTLE THAT LOLA BUILT and MAE’S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL were both reviewed in the New York Times. MAE’S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award for Children’s Literature and received a Council of Teachers of English Oregon Spirit honor award.
Kate Berube (Bear uh bee) grew up in a cow-filled Connecticut town where she dreamed of being an artist. She earned her BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and spent a semester studying in Paris. Like many artists, though, her career trajectory wasn't a straight line – along the way she was a nanny, a tax preparer, a scenic painter, a decorative painter, and a bookseller (at celebrated Powell’s Books). Portland is where she now makes her home with husband Mark and their two children.
In 2013, Kate was featured on the blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, in an ‘Up-and-Coming Illustrator’ post, which led to her representation by Lori Kilkelly during Lori’s time at Rodeen Literary Management. Publishers Weekly subsequently named Kate a spring 2016 ‘Flying Start’ and she now has an entire shelf of picture books to her credit, which can be seen at the bottom of the page. Her work has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal, and has been on multiple ‘best book’ lists, including Chicago Public Library, SLJ, and All the Wonders.
Kate's authorial debut, Hannah and Sugar, inspired by their beloved dog, Sugar (seen here), who has since passed away, was reviewed in the Wall Street Journal, was a CCBC Charlotte Zolotow ‘Highly Recommended Title’, a Parent’s Choice ’16, shortlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize, and won both the Marion Vannett Ridgway Award and the Oregon Book Award for Children's Literature. The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read was a CLEL Bell Award winner. The Sandcastle that Lola Built and Mae’s First Day of School were both reviewed in the New York Times. Mae’s First Day of School was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award for Children’s Literature and received a Council of Teachers of English Oregon Spirit Book Award Honor.
Illustrator Spotlight: Kate Berube
© Kate Berube
May 25, 2018
Today we're delighted to feature illustrator Kate Berube and her book THE SANDCASTLE THAT LOLA BUILT, written by Megan Maynor (Knopf Books for Young Readers, May 2018).
Be sure to enter the giveaway for a copy!
Tell us about your background and how you came to illustrate for children.
As a child I loved to draw and I loved to read. I studied art in college at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. For many years I was a fine artist and painted in oils. I also was a decorative painter for a few years - painting intricate stenciled patterns on walls and ceilings. When I moved to Portland, Oregon I started nannying to make ends meet and I rediscovered my love of children’s books. I had been increasingly unsatisfied with fine art and I was thrilled to discover a more satisfying outlet for my art.
After that I joined SCBWI and took a number of classes about children’s books. Eventually, all my hard work paid off and here I am with book number four and five coming out this year!
© Kate Berube
Congrats on your new book, THE SANDCASTLE THAT LOLA BUILT. Did you have to build a lot of sandcastles as research for the book?
© Kate Berube
Thank you! I have many, many years of sandcastle building under my belt to draw from. I grew up going to the beaches of New England and I especially love Cape Cod. And since moving to Oregon in 2001 I’ve enjoyed exploring the beaches of the west coast.
© Kate Berube
Has your road to publication been long and windy, short and sweet, or something in between?
Long and windy, certainly! I took my first children’s book illustration class in 2000 and my first book was published in 2016.
© Kate Berube
What are the 1-2 things you did that most helped you become a published illustrator?
I always tell students that the number one thing that helped me was making friends. All of the people I’ve met along my journey as an artist have taught me so much and supported me through the tough times. And you never know where those connections might lead you.
© Kate Berube
I found my wonderful agent, Lori Kilkelly of Rodeen Literary Management, because my friend Victoria Jamieson shared my work with Julie Danielson. I feel blessed to have so many wonderful kidlit and artist friends! It’s amazing to see the beautiful work they’ve made and successes they’ve had since I first met many of them years ago.
© Kate Berube
What projects are you working on now?
I’m on maternity leave - so my project currently is keeping my little daughter chubby and happy. I also have another book coming out this year, MAE’S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, from Abrams. So, I’m working just a bit to plan some fun promotional things for both books. But my maternity leave ends soon, so if any editors out there have projects for me I’d love to see them!
© Kate Berube
What is one thing most people don't know about you?
I had thyroid cancer when I was 23. It was a difficult thing to go through but it made it clear to me at an early age that I should spend my time doing what I enjoy because I realized just how short life could be.
Where can people find you online?
website: kateberube.com
twitter: @kateberubebooks
facebook: facebook.com/kate.berube.books
instagram: @kateberubebooks
Kate Berube (Bear uh bee) grew up wanting to be an artist in a cow-filled Connecticut town. She earned her BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Like so many artists, Kate’s career trajectory wasn't a straight line – she’s been a nanny, a tax preparer in Massachusetts, a scenic painter in NYC, a decorative painter in Chicago, and a bookseller in Portland.
Kate’s debut picture book as an author and illustrator is HANNAH AND SUGAR, published by Abrams Books For Young Readers. It won the 2017 Literary Arts Oregon Book Award, the Marion Vannett Ridgway Award and was short listed for the Klaus Flugge Prize. Kate illustrated THE SUMMER NICK TAUGHT HIS CATS TO READ, by Curtis Manley - published by Simon & Schuster’s Paula Wiseman Books and MY LITTLE HALF-MOON, by Douglas Todd Jennerich - published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers. Kate now lives in Portland, Oregon.
hannah and sugar + an interview with Kate Berube
PICTURE BOOKS +
04.05.2016
HannahAndSugarHannah and Sugar (2016) by Kate Berube.
Kate Berube’s debut is terrific. It’s a girl and a dog book. A fear book. An overcoming your worries in order to connect book.
(Just look at that cover! The way these two mirror each other, those glimmers of pink!)
HannahandSugar_4.72.dpiBerube’s economy of storytelling really stuck out to me. She does this, in part, through repetition in her set up. Every day. Every day. Every day. Every single day. And then, one different day! Every day Sugar is there. And every day Hannah says, “No thank you,” when asked to pet her. As a reader, you wonder why she says that. But you kind of know too.
HannahandSugar_5.72dpi
There’s this celled spread that shows us so effortlessly the passage of time and how things stay the same. Every day, a dog. Every day a girl saying no but toying with saying yes. Wondering what would happen if. Just look at her eyes and the tilt of her head every time!
HannahandSugar_6.72.dpi
That goodbye spread really gets to me, and it has echoes on other spreads too in affecting ways. It shows us so much. The connection between these two. The feeling of being drawn to something and knowing you’re missing out on it, but unable to change things. Not yet.
HannahandSugar_8.72.dpi
Until the different day. The day Sugar is not there. And that’s a big day for Hannah. Things change then because she’s worried not about herself, but about Sugar. She’s wondering what it would be like to be lost. She puts herself in Sugar’s place and she’s able, from there, to be brave.
HannahandSugar_13.72.dpi
She’s able to take a risk for a sweet dog who’s waiting to be her friend.
+
This Picture Book Life:Where did the idea for HANNAH AND SUGAR come from? What was the process of creating it (words and art)?
Kate Berube: The idea for Hannah and Sugar came to me in a couple of ways. First, I was trying to be more brave in my life at the time I was writing it and was thinking a lot about what it really means to be brave. I had been mulling over the idea that bravery isn’t really about confidence or boldness, it’s about doing something you are afraid to do—having fear and doing it anyway. I realized that most of the best things in life are a little scary at first.
With that in mind I decided I wanted to write a story about a fear that would be something children could relate to. One day, years ago, I was at the bus stop to pick up some kids I was taking care of and one of the neighborhood families had adopted a dog. All the kids came streaming off the bus and beelined for the new dog, all except one little boy. I couldn’t tell you if that little boy was afraid of dogs or just indifferent but it gave me an idea. That moment inspired the first two spreads of the book.
Of course, it all seems so simple and straightforward in retrospect. It wasn’t AT ALL simple or straightforward at the time. I had many ideas I was playing with and I wasn’t sure which I liked best and which I should be focusing on. I wrote many, many unfinished stories about different fears and also about completely different things altogether. Once I did narrow down my focus to a story about a girl who was afraid of dogs – I still wrote many, many drafts to get the story to where it is now.
I’m currently working on writing a new book and it’s an interesting and frustrating process. I often find myself wishing a finished and perfect story would just come to me all at once. But then I remember that’s just not how it works and that the process of creating a story can be really fun if I can stop focusing on whether or not it’s any good.The only way forward is to try and fail and then try again. That’s my process for both drawing and writing. I just keep trying different things until I find something I like.
TPBL: Are you a dog person/what dogs have you loved?
Sugar
KB: I wasn’t always a dog person but I am now. The Sugar in the story is named for my real life dog. The real life Sugar has only one eye – which makes her extra cute.
She came into my life through a boyfriend I’d been dating for only a few months. When he told me he was getting a dog I thought to myself, “Well, that might be the end of this relationship!” I just didn’t get the dog thing – they seemed like a nuisance to me – messy and a lot of work.
But, how that changed when I got to know Sugar. I finally understood it. Yeah, she’s messy and takes some work but it’s always more than worth it. She gives me so much love and comfort. Now the boyfriend who introduced me to Sugar is my husband and I cannot imagine life without either of them. Sugar lays beside me in the studio all day as I work and we take lots of walks. Anytime I feel sad or stressed she is there to snuggle up to. I adore her.
TPBL: I love the page that’s all muddy black with the words “Hannah closed her eyes and took a deep breath” very much. It’s so authentic to what it feels like to be really scared and about to face that fear. When and how did that page come about?
KB: I have a sketch book somewhere with that idea in it – an all black page with little words on the bottom “she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.” I think I came up with it on the bus one day – unrelated to this story. And then it just sat in the back of my mind and thankfully came to me when I was writing this story.
I think that’s how a lot of writing books works – we come up with ideas here and there and jot them down and then if we’re lucky we remember them at the right moment and fit the right ones together to tell a story.
TPBL: Who are some picture book creators working today/some picture books you most admire? Who are your influences?
KB: I have a background in observational painting and perhaps it’s not something obvious in my work, but I think all the years of studying painting has had a huge influence on how I create illustrations. Some painters I’ve loved since I was young: Rembrandt, Matisse, Cezanne, Degas, Corot, Monet, Van Gogh, Vuillard, Bonnard, Giacometti, Hokusai, Hopper, Dubuffet, Morandi, Moore, Diebenkorn, Basquiat, Fairfield Porter, Hockney.
As far as children’s book creators – I could list hundreds! I used to work at Powell’s Books in the kid’s room and I read as many children’s books as I possibly could. There are so many who’ve influenced me.
Some children’s book makers I’m thinking about/studying/loving this week are:
Chris Raschka – I’m in awe over his ability to paint very gesturally and loose but also so clearly communicate emotion. His work reminds me of the ideas behind Japanese brush painting – allowing the mind to be free to let the body create.
Beatrice Alemagna – Her work is playful and relaxed but it’s also very, very smart. I’m crazy about all the layers and textures in her illustrations.
Christian Robinson – I adore everything he does and I cannot really figure out why. I could say it’s the combination of his lovely sense of color and his great design and his beautiful hand-painted shapes – but I feel like that’s oversimplifying it.
Kate DiCamillo – I love her books so much. I’ve been trying to reread them and dissect how they work, but I always just get caught up in the story and forget to think about the craft of it.
TPBL: You have a real economy of visuals. For example, you show us time passing on one spread in this sort of four-celled way and the searching scene is also very interestingly laid out. How does that kind of thing come about? Are you at all influenced by comic books?
KB: I do love some comic books and graphics novels but I’m kind of an amateur fan. I love Calvin and Hobbes and Saga, for example, but there are SO many I’m not familiar with. I have read Scott McCloud’s book, Understanding Comics, and learned a ton from it. I would recommend it to anyone who’s creating stories with words and pictures. (Also, the Uri Shulevitz book, Writing With Pictures, taught me a ton about telling a story visually.)
So, to answer your question, yes, perhaps there is a comic book influence, but it wasn’t exactly intentional. I think those pages came about partially because of the constraint of having only 32 pages to work with. It was important to find ways to show passage of time that didn’t take up a lot of pages. Also, it was about pacing the story. I wanted to make it build up at the right speed and having those scenes compacted like they are made the story move at the pace I thought it should.
TPBL: What’s next for you?
SummerNickTaughtKB: I illustrated a picture book called The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read, by Curtis Manley, which is coming out in July from Paula Wiseman Books/Simon and Schuster. It was really fun and different to illustrate someone else’s words and it’s a terrific story. A boy tries to teach his cats to read but soon learns one cat is what you might call a “reluctant reader.” A book about discovering the joy of reading – what could be better?!
And I’m working right now on illustrations for a very unique and delightful story called My Little Half Moon, about a child who has a friendship with the moon. It’ll come out next year from Putnam Books and written by Doulgas Jennerich.
And as I mentioned, I’m also working on writing my next book. I’m still searching for the answers to a lot of questions about it so I’m not ready to share anything yet. But I’m excited about it – it will be great to put into practice all the new things I learned from working on my first three books.
Thanks again for having me!
Berube, Kate HANNAH AND SUGAR Abrams (Children's Picture Books) $16.95 3, 8 ISBN: 978-1-4197-1890-8
What to do when you're afraid of dogs? Every day after school Hannah's papa meets her at the bus stop. Her friend and neighbor, Violet P., is welcomed by her mom and dog, Sugar. The other kids greet the pooch with a friendly pat, but Hannah, perhaps a kindergartner, steadfastly refuses, glancing at Sugar warily. One day, Violet reports that Sugar's missing; a neighborhood search fails to uncover her. On a starry night, as Hannah sits outside pondering what being lost feels like, she hears a whimper and investigates. Surprise! It's Sugar, her leash entangled on a bush. Stifling her instincts to flee, Hannah musters her courage and reaches out a comforting--and rescuing--hand. Sugar, who's heretofore noticed this timid girl sympathetically, gratefully nuzzles her. This is a sweet tale with a satisfying ending; expressive, childlike paint-and-ink illustrations drive the story well. Though all the human principals are white (or very light-skinned), there is a black family in the neighborhood. Dog lovers will cheer that Hannah has joined their ranks; dog-fearing children may feel emboldened, though it's unlikely that they'd come to an animal's aid without first seeking adult help--and arguably they shouldn't, an important point the story doesn't make. Another missing point of logic involves the apparent close proximity of Sugar to Hannah's house: how did no one hear the crying dog sooner? A dog-positive story with a misstep or two. (Picture book. 3-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Berube, Kate: HANNAH AND SUGAR." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Jan. 2016. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A541695525/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=5dc71942. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
Manley, Curtis THE SUMMER NICK TAUGHT HIS CATS TO READ Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster (Children's Picture Books) $17.99 7, 5 ISBN: 978-1-4814-3569-7
An enthusiastic reader teaches his two cats to appreciate books, though it takes extra effort to interest one of them in the endeavor.Nick is a round-headed, early-elementary-sized, brown-skinned child with a fluff of curly hair and two cats, Verne and Stevenson. All three enjoy frolicking together, but when Nick wants to read, one cat ignores him, and the other sprawls on the volume open in his lap (a habit that will be familiar to cat lovers of all ages). The latter, Verne, a small cat with orange-and-brown stripes and a cheerful disposition, is amenable to Nick's instruction. "But not Stevenson," who frowns, runs away, and even hisses. When Nick and Verne discover Stevenson's fascination with pirates, however, they have the hook they need. Nick's efforts are both logical and methodical, and once he has achieved his goal, he and his feline friends find ways to incorporate their favorite stories into all kinds of imaginative play. Manley's conversational text flows smoothly and has a matter-of-fact tone that grounds the fantastical elements. Berube's charmingly childlike art, created in ink, Flashe paint, and acrylic paint, captures the cats' personalities perfectly and creates a cozy, everyday world with just enough amusing details to reward repeat readings.Young listeners of all stripes (and species) will enjoy this warmhearted celebration of literacy and imagination. (Picture book. 3-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Manley, Curtis: THE SUMMER NICK TAUGHT HIS CATS TO READ." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2016. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A450833081/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=412bf2ad. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
Jennerich, Douglas Todd MY LITTLE HALF-MOON Putnam (Children's Picture Books) $16.99 5, 16 ISBN: 978-0-399-16901-4
A child's fascination (and frustration) with a seemingly lonely, incomplete half-moon leads to a lunar surprise and friendship. The unnamed child narrator of this series of rhyming couplets has decided that the half-moon can't be happy. The bear-suit-clad white child first offers gifts to impress it, then yells up in anger at its indifference, trying to explain to it the wonder of being the moon. Some of it is lovely (the moon is "the reason that dogs and wolves howl"), other bits not so much, the result of trying to shoehorn words such as "balk" and "fondue" into the rhyme scheme. In parts, the story gets into the narrator's mind, but in sum, it seems like a story that doesn't know if it wants to be a wacky escalation of the things the child will do to get the half-moon's attention or a simple meditation on its stunning beauty when it appears in full. The illustrations, with deep blues, greens, and blacks against a simple, chalky yellow moon, split the difference, acting as a moody but appropriately wistful accompaniment to the sometimes-draggy text. They also introduce a subtextual story in the form of a bunny-suit-clad child of color who watches the narrator's antics and eventually offers friendship. Like the text, it is sweet but also feels forced. For caregivers of kids with brief, harmless fixations the story will ring true--but for little readers, some real nighttime moon spotting may be even better. (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Jennerich, Douglas Todd: MY LITTLE HALF-MOON." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2017. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A482911595/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c1dd637f. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
Maynor, Megan THE SANDCASTLE THAT LOLA BUILT Knopf (Children's Fiction) $17.99 5, 15 ISBN: 978-1-5247-1615-8
Lola's beach day becomes more enjoyable when she gets a little help from some friends.
The opening text adopts a cumulative pattern, reading: "This is the sandcastle that Lola built. // This is the tall, tall tower / Of the sandcastle that Lola built." Lola starts off her construction alone, but after she's topped the tower with sea glass "that signals mermaids," the narration is interrupted by Lola's own words: "This is the foot--'Hey! You stepped on my sandcastle!' " Lola immediately forgives the boy (called only "the dude with a Frisbee" or "Frisbee Dude") who's stepped on her sand castle and invites him to build with her. He adds a wall, and the cumulative text moves on...until it's interrupted by the arrival of a toddler and his toy truck. This pattern continues, with lines added to the cumulative text as both the sand castle and the group of children building it get bigger. Then, Lola is bereft when a big wave destroys their creation, but her new friends convince her to build a new one, together. Berube's illustrations, done in mixed media and collage, add visual humor and interest with their expressive depictions of the racially diverse children and background details--including mermaids hidden in clouds and sea. Lola has tan skin and straight, dark hair; Frisbee Dude has pale skin and curly, red hair, and the little toddler has medium brown skin and, adorably, no hair.
Dig into this playful, beachy read. (Picture book. 2-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Maynor, Megan: THE SANDCASTLE THAT LOLA BUILT." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2018. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A528959889/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=df69e176. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
Berube, Kate MAE'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Abrams (Children's Fiction) $16.99 7, 10 ISBN: 978-1-4197-2325-4
There's nothing wishy-washy about Mae: She is "not going" to school!
Despite her parents' best efforts, all Mae sees is "the things that could go wrong." The other kids might not like her, they all might know how to write (she does not), and she might miss her mother. As soon as she gets to school, she climbs a tree. Maybe she could live there. She's soon joined by Rosie, who is equally determined not to go to school: Other kids might not play with her, she might be asked to read (she doesn't know how yet), and she might miss her dad. Then Ms. Pearl climbs up, explaining that she's not going to school, either: The kids might not like her, she might "forget how to spell Tuesday," and she might miss her cat. Taking comfort from one another, the three descend to go to school. Berube's story takes its protagonist's fears seriously, and even though young readers are likely to anticipate the story's outcome, its respect for their emotions is clear. Repetition and patterning will help children participate in the telling and anticipate what will happen next. In the bright and splashy illustrations, Mae is depicted with pale skin and a thatch of black hair; Rosie has light brown skin and brown pigtails; Ms. Pearl has brown skin and a poof of tightly curled brown hair.
A sweet affirmation of jitters and comfort in numbers. (Picture book. 4-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Berube, Kate: MAE'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL." Kirkus Reviews, 1 June 2018. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A540723465/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8b484420. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
Thornburgh, Blair SECOND BANANA Abrams (Children's None) $16.99 8, 11 ISBN: 978-1-4197-4234-7
The Food Is Fun Healthy Eating Good Nutrition Pageant is great…unless you are the Second Banana.
All 15 of Mrs. Millet’s students are excited each year for the pageant. Each gets to play a different healthy food, but this year there are 16 students. When everyone is assigned a role, it turns out there will be two bananas. The narrator is not pleased. This kid wants to be the only banana. Mrs. Millet is consoling, but she doesn’t understand. And the little Second Banana’s family doesn’t even sympathize—they just make banana puns. The class rehearses all month long, and throughout, the Second Banana fumes at getting only half a line and half as much time on stage! Two days before the pageant, the kid realizes that First Banana doesn’t seem happy either. It turns out First Banana doesn’t want to be onstage at all. Second Banana tries to cheer up First, but to no avail. Thinking fast, the narrator has a bright idea for a new show finale and ends up with a new friend. Thornburgh’s school story about making the best of a less-than-optimal situation and showing kindness and empathy for a new friend will ap-peel (sorry) to young readers and listeners, who will easily identify. Berube’s expressive cartoons are a good match—those food costumes are pretty funny. Both bananas have pale skin, Mrs. Millet is a woman of color, and the rest of the class is diverse and includes one child who uses a wheelchair. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.3-by-18.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 83.5% of actual size.)
No rotten bananas here. (Picture book. 3-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Thornburgh, Blair: SECOND BANANA." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A629261418/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3faf546f. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
John's Turn
Mac Barnett, illus. by Kate Berube. Candlewick, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-5362-0395-0
Employing sweet humor and sensory detail, Barnett (What Is Love?) and Berube (Second Banana) convey the unexpected beauty of a school performance. Sometimes, "if we're good," Friday Assembly ends with a student presenting a talent--"It's called 'Sharing Gifts.' A lot of us think that's kind of a dumb name, but we also think Sharing Gifts is the best." Recent examples include a tuba performance, magic tricks, and stand-up comedy, and today, it's John's turn. Berube draws the tan-skinned child sitting silently in front of an untouched breakfast tray ("We knew why. He was nervous"). Soon, children of varying skin tones sit on the floor of the cafeteria, which "still smells like breakfast." In a series of vignettes, John dons a white leotard, black pants, and black slippers behind a curtain, and then stands tensely onstage as music begins. One snarky audience comment is quickly squelched before "he danced": in a breathlessly kinetic, wordless sequence, spreads show John turning, leaping, and landing, light as a feather, until he comes to the end of his routine, "breathing hard"--and the audience knows just how to respond. The story's collective, omniscient voice and graceful illustrations, wonderfully reminiscent of The Philharmonic Gets Dressed, portray a community that stays open and curious--and a child who shares their effort with brave vulnerability. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. Illustrators agent: Lori Kilkelly, LK Literary. (Mar.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"John's Turn." Publishers Weekly, vol. 269, no. 2, 10 Jan. 2022, p. 60. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A690146823/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=5d537c2f. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
Willow the White House Cat
Jill Biden with Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illus. by Kate Berube. S&S/Wiseman, $19.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-6659-5205-7
In this narrative from Biden with Satin Capucilli, a farm visit from the first lady leads to a new life in Washington, D.C., for a gray tiger cat named Willow--but not before the farmer assures the kitten that "no matter where you go, we all share the same moon." After a warm welcome by both Bidens, Berube, working in ink and acrylic, chronicle Willow's explorations of her new digs: one catalog-like cutaway spread shows her perusing spaces including the Red Room and the Map Room, while other vignettes show friendly encounters with White House staff. But Willow's favorite spot is the Oval Office, where she sleeps on the big desk and receives presidential skritches. It's a quietly lovely portrait of a landmark through feline eyes, which concludes with a cozy personal moment: the president and first lady snuggled together under the covers, Willow curled up between them. Human characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author's note includes photos of the real Willow. Ages 4-8. (June)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Willow the White House Cat." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 27, 15 July 2024, p. 97. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A802348162/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f61dece7. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.