Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
When Juno and his mother lose their home and have to move, his mom likes the sounds of the mourning doves that greet them at their new address. But for Juno, who feels the change keenly, "this is a terrible place to build a nest!" When one of the family's movers inadvertently smashes the mourning doves' nest and eggs, things hit an emotional bottom for Juno: "I told you it was a bad place for a nest!" Over time, though, Juno makes a friend and unpacks his room, and the birds make another nest, as Meza's palette warms subtly from chalky, washed-out blues and browns to cheerful saturated hues. The slow but steady transformation that Levine traces from upset to familiarity and joy feels real and satisfying as the family lavishes care on the mourning doves and, in the process, on making a new home for themselves. Juno and his mother have brown skin; other characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4--8. (May)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Juno and his mom have "lost their home" and need to move. When they open the gate to their new place, they're greeted by some noisy mourning doves that have built a nest there. Mom thinks they sound "lovely," but to Juno, who's upset about the move, they sound "startled and frightened." He also questions the wisdom of building a nest in such a busy spot. The next day movers accidentally knock down the nest, destroying the two eggs inside, which devastates Juno. Created with ink, charcoal, pencil, and Photoshop, Meza's (The Other Side, rev. 5/23) illustrations employ a muted color palette primarily of grays, blues, and tans to match Juno's sadness. Juno rebuilds the nest, hoping to encourage the birds to return. Over time, he grows more comfortable in his new home, and the color palette becomes lighter, culminating in cheerful yellows and corals when he discovers a bird sitting on eggs in the nest weeks later. Levine's (Sensitive, rev. 11/23) extended metaphor is clear but not heavy-handed. The final double-page spread shows Juno and his mom cuddled up reading together in his bedroom where a framed sign reads "Juno's nest." A reassuring story for any child coping with a difficult move. Marva Anne HintonJuly/August 2024 p.104 (c) Copyright 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
A young boy must adjust to a new home after a recent move. It isn't clear why Juno and his mother "lost their home," but it's obvious that the little boy is feeling overwhelmed. When they arrive at their new house, they are welcomed by the song of mourning doves, but Juno isn't impressed. Big changes mean lots of worries: His new room doesn't feel like his, the grocery store doesn't stock his favorite cereal, and the kids at his new school don't talk to him. Finally home again, Juno lets out his frustration: "This is a terrible place!" His yelling startles the neighboring mourning doves from their poorly placed nest atop the gate. The following day, movers accidentally dislodge the nest. Juno tries his best to rebuild it and bring the mourning doves back. They return but stay away from the nest. As time passes, Juno begins to settle into his new home. Then one day, he spots a bird in the nest and, with some help from his new friends, works hard to keep them safe. Created with charcoal, pencil, and Adobe Photoshop, the realistic illustrations work in harmony with the straightforward text. The art makes effective use of texture and angles to amplify Juno's emotions. This steadily paced story will reassure young readers that change is scary--but not always bad. Juno and his mom are brown-skinned. A feel-good ode to resilience. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
