Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A boy's difficulty managing strong feelings repeatedly leads to trouble until he learns to "stop and smell the cookies" in this drama-filled picture book. Peach-skinned Dash doesn't mean to act impulsively, but when he feels excited or impatient, he is frequently overcome ("His toes danced./ His fingers tickled the air"). In the span of two days, he is reprimanded for talking during karate, knocking over a plate of Grandma Noni's cookies, ruining a friend's birthday wish, and making a classmate cry. In a line of heavy-handed messaging, he says to his mother: "I know what's right and wrong, but sometimes I just can't help myself. Why are my feelings so much bigger than me?" Luckily, Mom comes to the rescue with a visualization exercise that Dash tries out the very next day, and models for readers who might relate to his challenges. Player's bright digital drawings depict Dash's highs and lows with a verve that elevates Frazier's well-intentioned storytelling. Ages 4--8. (July)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--Dash doesn't mean to mess up, but he just can't help karate-chopping his grandma's plate of cookies, blurting out the answer in class, and blowing out the candles on Cate's birthday cake. Luckily Mom is on hand to help. She uses the scenarios in Dash's bad day to help him remember a breathing and counting self-regulation technique whenever he feels the telltale warm and fuzzy feeling in his chest, tingling in his toes, and fingers starting to dance--breathe in the cookies, blow out the candle, and count to 100. In his debut picture book Frazier addresses the important and much-needed topic of self-control. The language is simple, and the story rolls out examples that kids can relate to and understand; readers will identify with Dash, even if his mother's pointing him toward the answers feels didactic. The brightly colored pages with strong black lines create friendly, cartoony illustrations that invite viewers in. Dash and his family have very light brown skin and black hair in tight curls (except Noni, who has braids). A variety of skin tones is used for secondary characters. This is an important issue, tautly articulated and addressed. VERDICT A good purchase for most collections, as stories about self-regulation are few and far between.--Hillary Perelyubskiy
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Dash wants to be good, and he knows right from wrong, but sometimes he can't stop himself from misbehaving. It's been a rough couple of days for Dash. He loves karate class so much that he forgets to be quiet. He goes to Cate's birthday party and accidentally blows out her candles before she can. Then at school, he blurts out the answer to a math activity while another student is still figuring it out. Each time he makes a poor choice, Dash can feel it coming: "Dash's chest felt warm and fuzzy. His toes danced. His fingers tickled the air." Yet each time he sees how disappointed people are with him, he feels terrible. The bold cartoon outlines and expressive faces in Player's illustrations pair perfectly with Frazier's infectious text. Dash's zest for life is palpable, as are both the tension that builds as he's about to do something wrong and his contrition afterward. It's clear that Dash is a good kid whose big feelings overwhelm him. Luckily, his supportive mom gives him a hug and teaches him a practical exercise for calming down his feelings, which he uses to great effect at school the next day. Dash and his parents have light skin and dark, curly hair, while his grandmother has gray hair and light skin. Other characters are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A humorous yet compassionate portrayal of the challenges of self-regulation. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
