Review by New York Times Review
AS WE GET OLDER, most of us come to associate vocabulary with rote exercises - flipping through flashcards, subscribing to "Word of the Day" emails, unsubscribing from "Word of the Day" emails. But for children, learning a new word is a powerfully creative act that can be, as four picture books show, both fun and profound. At first glance, "The Opposite Zoo," by Il Sung Na, appears to occupy well-worn territory: the concept of opposites, and a zoo setting. But as in his previous picture books like "Welcome Home, Bear," Na brings fresh energy to the familiar. With a coloring style that feels as if someone took a firecracker to a box of crayons, Na makes turtle shells as dynamic as a peacock's plumage. Our guide to the zoo is a monkey with a knowing smile and protruding ears, who explores the contrasting characteristics of its fellow animals. The monkey provides comic relief as it clings desperately to a speeding cheetah or sits bewildered among noisy baboons. It's characteristic of Na's playful touch that the book opens as the zoo closes and the zoo reopens as the book closes. A minor detail, but a delightful one that embeds the concept of opposites into the physical experience of the book. In "Yaks Yak," Linda Sue Park, the Newbery Medal-winning author of the middle-grade novel "A Single Shard," shows her range with a picture book that - simply and smartly - pairs animal names with their lesser-known verb forms. Park and the illustrator Jennifer Black Reinhardt pepper each page with witty details that will appeal to a wide range of ages. Even if children miss the humor behind a fish fishing for compliments, the crow crowing "I am super awesome" will surely elicit giggles. Beneath the humor of "Yaks Yak" lies the valuable truth that words, even those we take for granted, often have multiple meanings. In the world of puns, this can result in laughs (or eye rolls), but in other contexts, these nuances can have more complex implications. Lane Smith's "There Is a Tribe of Kids" begins with an image of a small child wearing a garment of leaves, hiding among a group of young goats ("a tribe of kids"). The story is told through declarative sentences built around the evocative collective nouns we use for animals ("There was a crash of rhinos," "There was an army of caterpillars" and so on). Within those restrictions, Smith, the author and illustrator of many picture books including the Caldecott Honor-winning "Grandpa Green," somehow weaves an emotionally resonant story of loneliness, loss and belonging. Smith's mottled landscapes accentuate the fragmented nature of the child's surreal journey. Whether the child is parading with elephants or swimming among jellyfish, each failed attempt to fit in exudes a Chaplinesque charm, skillfully blending slapstick and melancholy. Acceptance finally comes with the discovery of a diverse group of other leaf-clad children, kindred spirits who form their own "tribe of kids." Within the confines of the book, this is a heartwarming finale. Unfortunately, for me the juxtaposition of the word "tribe" with the woodland utopia conjured uncomfortable associations. For example, in the final scene, as the child describes his journey to his new friends, he wears feathers in his hair to re-enact his stint among an "unkindness of ravens." It's a whimsical visual in isolation, but some readers may detect something ill-advised, if not sadly familiar, in its echoes of the longstanding trope in children's literature that uses Native imagery or "playing Indian" to signify wildness, especially since the word "tribe" is so central to this often captivating book. The soaring "Thunder Boy Jr." illustrates the power of words through a more intentional and personal approach. This first picture book by Sherman Alexie, the author of the National Book Awardwinning young adult novel "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," is illustrated by the much celebrated Yuyi Morales ("Viva Frida," "Just a Minute"). Together they deliver a story that feels both modern and timeless, a joyous portrait of one boy's struggle to (literally) make a name for himself in the world. Thunder Boy Jr. is named after his father, who is known as Big Thunder (leaving the son with the unfortunate diminutive Little Thunder). While he loves and respects his father, the son confides to the reader that he "hates his name." For children, few words are more powerful than their own names, so this constitutes a true existential crisis. Little Thunder tries on different identities, playfully mining his accomplishments, his likes and dislikes and his hopes and dreams, searching for some defining essence of himself. Successfully climbing a mountain becomes the possible name Touch the Clouds. His love of powwow dancing evokes the name Drums, Drums and More Drums. His dream of traveling the world inspires the name Full of Wonder. Alexie's expertly paced text zips along with loving interjections from the boy's entire family, led by a precocious little sister. Morales's richly textured art crackles with boundless energy. Somehow, in her hands the color yellow radiates with a life of its own. There is a crucial moment when the father recognizes his son's struggle and concludes: "I think it's time I gave you a new name. A name of your own." The boy's reaction - "My dad read my mind! My dad read my heart!" - breathes with an authentic mix of relief and exhilaration, the giddy thrill of being truly seen and understood by someone you love. The fitting choice for his new name (I won't spoil it for you) cleverly allows the boy to forge a unique identity without severing ties to the past. Morales shows him standing proudly upon his father's broad shoulders, ready to reach for new heights. Sometimes, to take the world by storm, all you need is the power of the right word. MINH C. LE'S debut picture book, "Let Me Finish!," will be published in June. He blogs about picture books at Bottom Shelf Books.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [June 3, 2016]
Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Thunder Boy, an adorable American Indian tyke in rolled-up yellow overalls, is named after his father, and he hates it! Not because it's not a normal name or because he doesn't like his father, though; he wants a name that better reflects who he is. On energetic pages in bold, brassy color, Thunder Boy tries to pick a more suitable name. He climbed a mountain once, so how about Touch the Clouds? He likes garage sales Old Toys Are Awesome and powwow dancing Drums, Drums, and More Drums! Luckily, his dad catches on and offers the perfect suggestion: Lightning. Morales' playful figures, rendered in thick brushstrokes and appealingly rounded shapes, fizz with movement against textured scenes with pops of neon, while fantastic background details enliven the atmosphere check out Thunder Boy's mom on a cool motorbike, and his pudgy sister exuberantly playing along. While the effervescent illustrations and boisterous tone are dynamite on their own, Alexie and Morales' story offers a breezy, matter-of-fact introduction to a tradition replacing a child's name that will likely be new to many readers. Even if little ones don't pick up on the cultural significance, they will be entranced by the brilliant illustrations and Thunder Boy's rollicking determination to branch out on his own. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Alexie and Morales would be big draws on their own; together, they just might be unstoppable.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Echoes of Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian resonate in this vibrant first-person tale, illustrated in a stormy palette by Morales (Niño Wrestles the World). "I am the only Thunder Boy who has ever lived," says the young narrator. "Or so you would think. But I am named after my dad. He is Thunder Boy Smith Sr., and I am..." Here, his mother pops in from the right lower margin to complete the sentence: "Thunder Boy Smith Jr." The boy confides that his father's nickname, Big Thunder, sounds impressive, while his own nickname, Little Thunder, "makes me sound like a burp or a fart." After confessing "I hate my name!" with a chorus of screaming snakes, wolves, and bears driving the point home, Thunder Boy proposes several profound or funny alternatives, including "Star Boy," "Old Toys Are Awesome," and "Drums, Drums, and More Drums" because he "love[s] powwow dancing." In the end, his father understands his ambivalence and bestows a new name, although some readers may wish the boy, having spent several pages trying on new identities, had come up with it himself. Regardless, Alexie's first picture book showcases his ear for dialogue and sideways sense of humor, and Morales uses voice balloons and other comics elements to complement the characters' dynamic poses. Thunder Boy's energy is irresistible, as is this expansive portrait of a Native American family. Ages 3-6. Author's agent: Nancy Stauffer, Nancy Stauffer Associates. Illustrator's agent: Charlotte Sheedy, Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4 -An enchanting and humorous picture book about a little boy frustrated with his name. Readers are drawn into the story narrated by Thunder Boy Jr., called Little Thunder, who is named after his father, who is called Big Thunder. He works through his angst at the indignity of the name, presenting his case like a seasoned lawyer as he goes in search of a better, cooler moniker like Not Afraid of Ten Thousand Teeth or Touch the Clouds. The dialogue is humorous yet profound in the simple truths it imparts. His dad eventually gives him the perfect name. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
I HATE MY NAME! Why, Thunder Boy Smith complains, couldnt he have been named Sam like his mother (Agnes) wanted? And why does he have to share his name with his father, Thunder Boy Smith Sr., especially since their shared name causes people to call Dad Big Thunder, a nickname like a storm filling up the sky, and himself Little Thunder, which makes me sound like a burp or a fart. As the boy considers a number of new names, the pictures let us into his world and dreams. He once climbed a mountain (really his dads strong back), so he could be named Touch the Clouds, his little sister Lillian suggests. Lillian is no pushover, though; she also offers, considering Thunder Boys bike-riding prowess, Gravitys Best Friend. It is Dad who comes up with just the right name, rather a diversion from the books theme of self-definition but unmistakable in its acknowledgment of the bond between father and son. Despite the dad-pleasing message, the book is too funny and real to veer into parental self-congratulation, and Moraless illustrations (made from the remains of an antique house -- youll have to read the note) give great life and specificity to Thunder Boys Lightnings family. Dad truly is a mountain of a man, Mom rides a sporty scooter, Lillian is both brattish and adoring when it comes to her big brother; a pet dog dances happily amongst them all. roger sutton (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Thunder Boy Smith Jr. hates his name. The Native American boy is named after his father, whose nickname is Big Thunder. Thunder Boy Jr. says his nickname, Little Thunder, makes him "sound like a burp or a fart." Little Thunder loves his dad, but he longs for a name that celebrates something special about him alone. He muses, "I love playing in the dirt, so maybe my name should be Mud in His Ears.I love powwow dancing. I'm a grass dancer. So maybe my name should be Drums, Drums, and More Drums!" Little Thunder wonders how he can express these feelings to his towering father. However, he need not worry. Big Thunder knows that the time has come for his son to receive a new name, one as vibrant as his blossoming personality. Morales' animated mixed-media illustrations, reminiscent of her Pura Belpr Award-winning work in Nio Wrestles the World (2013), masterfully use color and perspective to help readers see the world from Little Thunder's point of view. His admiration of his dad is manifest in depictions of Big Thunder as a gentle giant of a man. The otherwise-muted palette bursts with color as Thunder Boy Jr. proudly enumerates the unique qualities and experiences that could inspire his new name. An expertly crafted, soulful, and humorous work that tenderly explores identity, culture, and the bond between father and son. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
