June 26, 2023
Cheerleading rhymes reinforce the importance of self-confidence in this upbeat kinder-companion. From making new friends and playing an unfamiliar game to singing on stage and doing show and tell, Steinberg affirms: “When you take a look in the mirror,/ who’s that kid looking your way?/ It’s a person who’s kind and thoughtful and smart/ and whose confidence grows every day.” Facing each stanza are candy-colored digital renderings that feature kids and caregivers of varied abilities and skin tones as they engage in activities such as stacking blocks, practicing handwriting, and making crafts. Comparing confidence-building to biking (“It may start out hard, but the more you ride,/ look how easy it suddenly feels!”), Steinberg and Hammond spotlight the importance of persistence in transforming uncertainty into assurance in this sprightly aid. Ages 3–5.
August 1, 2023
PreS-K-"When you take a look in the mirror, who's that kid looking your way? It's a person who's kind and thoughtful and smart and whose confidence grows every day!" A companion to How to Be Kind in Kindergarten, this gentle little book encourages young readers to seize the opportunity for growth presented by new and unfamiliar situations sure to occur once school begins. Newbie kindergartners get a sneak peak at what they can expect during the school year, from initiating new friendships to mustering the courage to raise your hand in class to developing a growth mindset for when a first attempt doesn't quite turn out as expected. Steinberg imparts these uplifting tidbits of encouragement through two to four simple lines of rhyming text on the left side of each spread, accompanied by Hammond's playful and brightly colored cartoon illustrations on the right. The bright-eyed children depicted are a diverse bunch of kinder-kiddos of various races, cultures, and abilities. The book's tiny size makes it convenient to store in a young child's backpack for any time a morale boost is needed. However, its small size could lead to being lost between larger picture books on library shelves and may be more suitable for personal book collections. VERDICT This bite-sized book offers a quick boost of confidence for kindergartners long past the first day of school.-Emily Brush
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.