John's Turn

Starred review from January 10, 2022
Employing sweet humor and sensory detail, Barnett (What Is Love?) and Berube (Second Banana) convey the unexpected beauty of a school performance. Sometimes, “if we’re good,” Friday Assembly ends with a student presenting a talent—“It’s called ‘Sharing Gifts.’ A lot of us think that’s kind of a dumb name, but we also think Sharing Gifts is the best.” Recent examples include a tuba performance, magic tricks, and stand-up comedy, and today, it’s John’s turn. Berube draws the tan-skinned child sitting silently in front of an untouched breakfast tray (“We knew why. He was nervous”). Soon, children of varying skin tones sit on the floor of the cafeteria, which “still smells like breakfast.” In a series of vignettes, John dons a white leotard, black pants, and black slippers behind a curtain, and then stands tensely onstage as music begins. One snarky audience comment is quickly squelched before “he danced”: in a breathlessly kinetic, wordless sequence, spreads show John turning, leaping, and landing, light as a feather, until he comes to the end of his routine, “breathing hard”—and the audience knows just how to respond. The story’s collective, omniscient voice and graceful illustrations, wonderfully reminiscent of The Philharmonic Gets Dressed, portray a community that stays open and curious—and a child who shares their effort with brave vulnerability. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Lori Kilkelly, LK Literary.

January 1, 2022
Preschool-Grade 2 Eating breakfast together at school, John's friends know that he is nervous. Today he'll perform for the whole school. Every Friday morning, all the students gather in the cafeteria for an assembly. First come the announcements and sometimes a guest. Finally comes a special time when one student shares a talent, such as playing the tuba or presenting card tricks. Backstage, after putting on his leotard, tights, and ballet slippers, John waits until finally the music starts. As he dances, his worries slip away. Gradually he begins to smile as he performs pli�s, pirouettes, arabesques, little jumps, and soaring leaps. At the end, John bows to his audience. They stand and clap for him. Written from his classmates' point of the view, the quiet text tells the story simply, though during the lively, eight-page dance sequence featuring images of John in motion, two words suffice: "He danced." Berube's sensitive drawings, created with ink and paint, capture the look and ambiance of the elementary-school setting as well as John's emotions. A respectful, wonderfully childlike introduction to ballet.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2022
A young White boy shares his secret talent with his classmates for the first time. An unnamed, unidentified narrator, clearly one of the titular protagonist's schoolmates, explains that every week at Friday Assembly, one student gets to perform for the whole school, an activity called "Sharing Gifts." Once, Tina played her tuba; another time, Jessie did some magic; Carol delivered a stand-up routine. Now it's John's turn, and boy does he look nervous. In short, declarative sentences the text describes John's preparations for his act. Once on stage, he hesitates as some kids laugh at the musical track accompanying his performance--"strings, violins and things, and then maybe flutes"--then it's showtime. A succession of wordless, double-page spreads uses continuous narration to showcase the various poses and steps of John's glorious ballet recital. His facial expression and body language morph as fear gives way to a joyful sense of accomplishment. Young readers will love John's classmates' reactions at the ending. Berube's simple ink-and-paint illustrations have minimal background details, allowing readers to focus squarely on John and his emotions. It is truly wonderful to see a boy character in a children's book so enthusiastic about, and accomplished at, ballet. Any child, though, who has a talent to share or struggles with performance anxiety will find a role model in John. The children are nicely diverse racially. Their teachers present White. A lovely, empowering book about having the courage to express one's individuality. (Picture book. 4-7)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 1, 2022

K-Gr 2-It is left to readers to intuit the source of John's stage fright in this heartwarming school story. A spunky child's voice explains about Friday assembly and Sharing Gifts time, when one student gets to perform for the whole school. Today it is John's turn. When the blue curtain opens, John, in his white leotard, black pants, and slippers, could not look more apprehensive. His expression barely changes through his first steps to the music, but then, after a graceful leap that spans two pages, John begins to dance with confidence and joy. He scissors his legs, spins, and soars with pointed toes and arms outstretched until the music stops. His worried eyebrows are gone, and there is a small smile on his lips. Then it is everybody else's turn...to clap. The child narrator and the loose line of the ink and paint illustrations capture the wiggly ambience of an elementary school assembly. The spreads over which John dances in a world of his own need no words and practically summon the music he is dancing to. VERDICT A charming affirmation of believing in oneself and of recognizing the heartfelt talents of others.-Jan Aldrich Solow

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 1, 2022
Barnett and Berube offer a sensitive story about a boy grappling with stage fright and insecurity. The main character, John, walks into the narrative on the front endpaper carrying a duffle bag, his shoulders slumped and his eyes downcast. A page-turn welcomes readers into a busy school auditorium where breakfast is ending and children are beginning to sit in front of a stage. An unnamed narrator explains the school's weekly Sharing Gifts assembly and notes John's anxiety: "He was quiet at breakfast. We knew why." Barnett's use of "we" builds a sense of intimacy, reinforced by Berube's warm ink and paint illustrations depicting students with many different skin tones, hair types and textures, and affects. The pace slows and suspense builds over a number of pages that show John suiting up in his ballet leotard and contemplating what he is about to face. A double-page spread puts readers onstage with the boy looking out at students who are distracted and whispering. Then Berube's illustrations burst into motion in a series of wordless spreads as John begins dancing. He's absorbed in his joy, and his classmates -- and readers -- become as enraptured as he is. Barnett and Berube bring mastery of craft as well as an understanding of human nature to offer a fresh take on a familiar theme. Adrienne L. Petinelli

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

March 1, 2022
Barnett and Berube offer a sensitive story about a boy grappling with stage fright and insecurity. The main character, John, walks into the narrative on the front endpaper carrying a duffle bag, his shoulders slumped and his eyes downcast. A page-turn welcomes readers into a busy school auditorium where breakfast is ending and children are beginning to sit in front of a stage. An unnamed narrator explains the school's weekly Sharing Gifts assembly and notes John's anxiety: "He was quiet at breakfast. We knew why." Barnett's use of "we" builds a sense of intimacy, reinforced by Berube's warm ink and paint illustrations depicting students with many different skin tones, hair types and textures, and affects. The pace slows and suspense builds over a number of pages that show John suiting up in his ballet leotard and contemplating what he is about to face. A double-page spread puts readers onstage with the boy looking out at students who are distracted and whispering. Then Berube's illustrations burst into motion in a series of wordless spreads as John begins dancing. He's absorbed in his joy, and his classmates -- and readers -- become as enraptured as he is. Barnett and Berube bring mastery of craft as well as an understanding of human nature to offer a fresh take on a familiar theme. Adrienne L. Petinelli

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2022
Barnett and Berube offer a sensitive story about a boy grappling with stage fright and insecurity. The main character, John, walks into the narrative on the front endpaper carrying a duffle bag, his shoulders slumped and his eyes downcast. A page-turn welcomes readers into a busy school auditorium where breakfast is ending and children are beginning to sit in front of a stage. An unnamed narrator explains the school's weekly Sharing Gifts assembly and notes John's anxiety: "He was quiet at breakfast. We knew why." Barnett's use of "we" builds a sense of intimacy, reinforced by Berube's warm ink and paint illustrations depicting students with many different skin tones, hair types and textures, and affects. The pace slows and suspense builds over a number of pages that show John suiting up in his ballet leotard and contemplating what he is about to face. A double-page spread puts readers onstage with the boy looking out at students who are distracted and whispering. Then Berube's illustrations burst into motion in a series of wordless spreads as John begins dancing. He's absorbed in his joy, and his classmates -- and readers -- become as enraptured as he is. Barnett and Berube bring mastery of craft as well as an understanding of human nature to offer a fresh take on a familiar theme.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)