Review by Booklist Review
Yaz drew her best picture ever. But when Miss Pimmy puts Debby's dog picture up on the Stars of the Week board instead of hers, Yaz becomes jealous. And as their classmates pay Debby even more attention, Yaz becomes the kind of jealous that makes you act mean, feel bad, and think ugly. Will her jealousy grow so big that it will end her friendship with Debby, or can they move past jealousy? Yaz makes some unkind choices but is clearly a good kid feeling big emotions, and she learns that actions have consequences but reparations are possible. The artwork excels at diverse classroom representation, with two BIPOC main characters, which is wonderful. This book handles an important topic with honesty, kindness, and positive messaging, including a beautiful and tender moment with Yaz's father. This is an excellently crafted behavioral story that addresses a very specific but universal moment in emotional development, and it deftly, healthily, and subtly navigates through the familiar, murky waters of envy.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2--Yaz, with tan skin and a black bob, is upset when her friend Debby's drawing is hung on the Stars of the Week board at school. As Yaz sees Debby--who is Black with two natural puffs of black hair--getting all the attention, she admits she feels envious. In fact, as the attention continues, Yaz becomes way past jealous. The kind of jealous that makes her "feel bad, think ugly, and act mean." She acts out by ignoring her friend, spilling her drink on purpose and pulling down Debby's drawing. When Debby notices the picture is gone, Yaz feels remorse, tells her father, and finds a way for the two to be friends again with an apology and a new drawing. Spare blocks of color and simplified body shapes focus the attention on the heavy black line of the facial expressions. The identification and eventual resolution are relayed in a straightforward manner, making this a useful book (one in a series) for learning to deal with jealousy in a positive and constructive way. VERDICT With its direct tone and relatable story, this title addresses feelings of jealousy and is an accessible tool for socio-emotional development.--Ramarie Beaver, formerly at Plano P.L., TX
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
When Yaz draws the best picture she's ever drawn in her life, she's excited--until she realizes that everyone in her class is paying attention to her friend Debby's drawing and not hers. Things get even worse when Yaz's teacher, Miss Pimmy, hangs Debby's picture of a dog on the Stars of the Week board but doesn't notice Yaz's drawing at all. Overcome by jealousy, Yaz starts acting unkindly toward both her friends and herself. When Debby saves her a seat at lunch, Yaz ignores her and sits elsewhere. When their friends talk about how much like Debby's dogs those in their drawings look, Yaz spills her drink on their pictures. Worst of all, Yaz leaves lunch early so she can remove Debby's picture from the Stars of the Week board, which breaks Debby's heart. None of these actions makes Yaz feel better--if anything, they make her feel worse--but she isn't sure how to fix the mess she's made. Eventually, Yaz realizes that she doesn't really care about being on the Stars of the Week board: What she cares about is Debby. But how will she fix the mistakes she made and get her friendship back? This frank portrait of childhood jealousy is both a compelling story and a perfect teaching tool. The protagonist's journey is authentic and accessible, making it a great way to start a conversation about big feelings. While the text makes no mention of race, the brightly colored illustrations render the cast diverse: Yaz has brown skin and black hair, and Debby appears to be Black. Companion title Way Past Sad looks at the grief experienced by two best friends about to be separated by a move. An astute tale of emotions, empathy, and redemption. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
