BRAVO FOR BACKSTAGE!, dealing with disappointment never looked better

BRAVO FOR BACKSTAGE!
MARY RAND HESS & RANDY PRESTON (illus. Marilena Perilli)
Free Spirit Publishing (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$18.99 hardcover, available now

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: Oscar is disappointed when he doesn't land the lead role—but as stage manager, he discovers joy, friendship, and magic backstage! Includes resources for a mini-musical. Discover the magic behind the scenes!

Oscar dreams of being in the spotlight, but when the lead role in the school play goes to someone else, he finds himself in an unexpected role—stage manager. Disappointed and unsure, Oscar wonders: can you still be a star if no one sees you?

With encouragement from family and friends, Oscar learns about all the amazing people who shine from behind the scenes—like vice presidents, nurses, and even drummers. As Oscar works to keep things going backstage, he realizes that being backstage doesn’t mean being invisible. It means being indispensable.

Why kids will love Bravo for Backstage!:

Uniquely pairs an online musical performance kit with an illustrated story

Engaging storytelling features an uplifting lesson on handling disappointment and recognizing the value of every role

Celebrates teamwork and the behind-the-scenes heroes who make the magic happen

When the curtains close and the audience cheers, Oscar finally understands: stars don’t just shine in the spotlight—they shine where they’re needed most.

The Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School picture book series seamlessly blends literature and the performing arts, offering an immersive storytelling experience. Each book provides online access to a script and original song recordings, allowing readers to bring the story to life as a mini musical—just like the characters in the book. This innovative series fosters creativity, imagination, and a love for the arts, making storytelling a truly interactive adventure.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: What a great idea! A lesson about disappointment featuring someone who wants to act! It's a package of materials, and it's very personal to the creators:

I'm impressed by the clarity and the vocabulary used in this tale aimed at the five- to nine-year-olds. Not too challenging, not dumbed down...so has your grade-school giftee tried out for a play or a team, and didn't make it? Okay then! Here's a story meant to help that doesn't talk down, wrap it up in cotton wool, or dismiss feeling hurt and rejected.

I think this one's a real keeper.

THE DAY MOON AND EARTH HAD AN ARGUMENT, cogent, cute, helpful, and sneakily educational

THE DAY MOON AND EARTH HAD AN ARGUMENT
DAVID DUFF (illus. Noemi Vola)
Princeton Architectural Press (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$18.99 hardcover, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Embark on an astronomical adventure through the solar system with this whimsical picture book that begins with a little rift in one of the most celebrated relationships in the universe.

All friends have disagreements. But when the friends are the Moon and planet Earth, the consequences are pretty cosmic!

After 4.5 billion years together, Moon has had enough of Earth. So, she packs her things and sets off to see what the solar system has to offer. On her galactic tour, Moon sweeps young readers along on a delightful and educational journey.

From scorching Venus to giant Jupiter, Moon encounters the oddities and charms of all the other planets on her journey. But as she reaches the cold and lonely edge of the solar system, she begins to wonder whether Earth is really so bad after all . . .

With vibrant illustrations, a dash of humor, and heartfelt explorations of emotions like anger and empathy, this children’s book about friendship beautifully conveys the value of connection and the invaluable lesson that sometimes what we’re looking for is closer than we think.

Offering a fun and practical review of the planets and their characteristics throughout, The Day Moon and Earth Had an Argument also includes two full spreads at the back of the book filled with fascinating facts about our solar system, information about gravity, how the moon was formed, and more.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: I just can't with this book! It's so completely, beguilingly adorable. I love the art, which of course is utterly subjective. I'm also a big fan of sneaking two kinds of message into one story...astronomy lessons, emotional guidance, and the commonsensical way they're framed together. The farther away from each other Earth and Moon get, the less things are familiar, and that's scientifically accurate as well as a good thing to reinforce about friendship in this very young (four or so on the lap-reader end, maybe six or a slower seven independently reading) target group.

close neighbor or not Venus is no Earth!

In offering sneaky factual lessons while addressing a very real emotional problem lots of kids will face as they move outside the family circle. Friendship is a skill, one we're all wise to maintain with care. Anger, feeling hurt, not understanding what just happened or knowing what to do about it...all those things are dealt with (while sneaking in astronomy lessons).

all the way out, and still no one's like Earth

Making things right is hard, but it can be done, and it's a big accomplishment when it's done. Wonderful little tale delivering a big message (and sneaking in cool facts in its pretty illustrations).