Birdie's Beauty Parlor

March 15, 2020
When Grandma looks tired, it's time for a makeover! Birdie addresses readers with total assurance, instructing those who have similarly tired grandmothers to lay them on their beds with appropriate head support and then go to town. Byrd's text gives Delgado lots of room to supply detail. "Look in her drawers and find these things," Birdie announces, and the illustration depicts this small, pigtailed child bending over a drawer and slinging tweezers, lipstick, scarf, lotion, and more into the air. Then: "Dump all the stuff on the bed." An aerial view depicts patient Grandma on her back and just the top of Birdie's head as the aforementioned "stuff" is flung down, a bottle of talcum powder landing with a discernible puff. Birdie tweezes Grandma's chin free of hairs; powders her face; applies eyeshadow ("Get it all over"), blush, and lipstick; lotions Grandma's feet; and accessorizes Grandma with earrings and scarf: "Aren't you beautiful, Grandma?" The brief text is laid out one step per double-page spread, and Delgado nails the small child's exuberance in his smudgy, textured spreads. Stray dots of talc adorn Grandma's chin, and the enthusiasm with which Birdie grabs Grandma's lips to apply the lipstick may have some adults wincing. They won't wince at the evident joy experienced by this loving pair. Both Birdie and her extremely patient grandmother have brown skin, and a dual English/Spanish text welcomes Latinx readers. A delightful celebration of intergenerational love. (Picture book. 3-7)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 15, 2020
Grades K-2 When Birdie notices that her abuela is worn out and tired, she offers a one-of-a-kind makeover to help Abue look and feel her best. Byrd's sweet storyline, which encourages readers to follow both the English and Spanish of the bilingual text, is accompanied by fronterizo artist Delgado's lively illustrations of soft, pastel-like lines and animated expressions, utilizing the entire color spectrum to mirror Birdie's joy at having a home salon and spa day with Abue. Through Birdie's selfless wish to spoil her hardworking grandma and the fun she has preening, massaging, and applying makeup and accessories, this affectionate tale will motivate young readers to express their own care and try new activities with loved ones. While the illustrations may depart from realism, the emotion and potency they exude is spectacular; the characters' humanity?crow's-feet and wrinkles, smiles and dimples, twinkling eyes and draping fabrics?springs from the page, flowing alongside the closeup, detailed images of two creative females bridging the gap between their generations.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)