The one and only Sparkella

K-Gr 2--Hollywood superstar Tatum pens a sparkling debut. Ella--who prefers to go by Sparkella--prepares for her first day at a new school. Excited to share her penchant for all things glittering, Sparkella proclaims, "I am not nervous because I sparkle!" However, as her father walks her glittery self to school, she admits to being "nerv-cited." This prompts an upbeat pep talk from her pink-boa wearing dad, followed by a mini-dance party. Sparkella enters school with her confidence restored--only to be met by classmates who are quite unsure of her shimmering self. At recess, the lunch table, and art class, Sparkella's classmates express confusion about her self-expression. Feeling defeated, she returns home with a resolve to be less sparkly the next day. She eats a plain lunch, goes by Ella, and sits quietly, yet feels even worse. In a delightful twist, Ella's father approaches her that evening and admits that he is having trouble at work and seeks her advice. Of course, lots of dancing ensues, along with the recommendation to be yourself, encouraging Sparkella to return to her own twinkling self. The next day at school, she notices a little more sparkle among her classmates. The endearing representation of a supportive single father makes this book shine; similarly, the illustrations delight throughout, tenderly reflecting Sparkella's struggles and successes. VERDICT A charming story of self-reliance, and a solid addition to many collections.--Olivia Gorecke, Cape May Cty. Lib., Ocean View, NJ

The first day of school might not go too well, nor the second--but the third time's the sparkly charm in actor Tatum's picture-book debut. Working a particularly effervescent variation on the well-trod "just be yourself" lesson, Barnes depicts young Ella ("You can call me Sparkella") and their single dad positively exploding with stars and twinkles bursting from flamboyant garb and dancing along to school. But if Sparkella turns out to be a bit much for their new class, Day 2's plainly dressed Ella just leaves the protagonist bored and lonely. There's nothing for it but to share a little dance party that night with Dad (who had a hard day himself) and recite the pledge that the duo use to combat nervousness: "Close my eyes and know that everything I could need is already there inside of me." The next day, Sparkella's not the only child fizzing away in class and by lunchtime is trading half of an almond butter, jam, blueberry, and whipped cream sandwich for some of new friend Tam's bánh mì. Sometimes, as the scintillant young narrator puts it, "all you can do is be more you-ish." Sparkella and Dad are light-skinned, Tam is brown-skinned, and the class is racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A message delivered many times…but still true blue--ish. (Picture book. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.