Review: Kirkus Reviews: “Esmail and illustrator Cooke craft a beautiful story. The writing is simple and should be easy for independent readers to follow, and plenty of white space leaves room for text and vibrant rainbow spatters that play across the full-color painterly illustrations whenever Unice or Snyder assert their inner identities. These bursts of color effectively contrast with the grayness of Unice’s family and their inculcating, off-page calls of “That’s what rhinos do”; also notable is the murky, watercolor smudge that accompanies Unice when she briefly despairs. The effect is striking, and the message, while unabashedly overt, is one that will stay with children.”
“Beautifully illustrated and eloquently written, Raina’s (Un) Happy Birthday shows that girls, whatever age they may be, have the power to choose how they show and receive love. This is a powerful message for girls and boys and everyone who cares for them.” —Loung Ung, author of Lucky Child and Lulu in the Sky
“The storyline is compelling and highly relatable for young children. Best of all, the illustrations are truly magical and beautiful. Highly recommend.” – Kathryn, Kindle Reviews
“A magical story. With extraordinary insight, tenderness, and love, Britta Stromeyer Esmail delivers a timely and empowering message—the importance of voice—to our children and youth. It takes courage for a little one to speak out and stand up to pressure. Raina’s (Un) Happy Birthday provides an example of how to do just that without hurting the feelings of those you love. It’s a lesson that all of us—young and old—can benefit from. I can’t wait to share this beautifully told and illustrated story with my granddaughters!” —April Christofferson, best-selling author of Buffalo Medicine
Published Books
Look At Me, What Do You See?
Author: Britta Stromeyer Esmail
Illustrator: Joanna Cooke
Publisher: Beaver’s Pond Press, 2023
ISBN:
Language(s): English
Review: Kirkus Reviews: “Esmail and illustrator Cooke craft a beautiful story. The writing is simple and should be easy for independent readers to follow, and plenty of white space leaves room for text and vibrant rainbow spatters that play across the full-color painterly illustrations whenever Unice or Snyder assert their inner identities. These bursts of color effectively contrast with the grayness of Unice’s family and their inculcating, off-page calls of “That’s what rhinos do”; also notable is the murky, watercolor smudge that accompanies Unice when she briefly despairs. The effect is striking, and the message, while unabashedly overt, is one that will stay with children.”
Pelli Can!
Author: Irene Berman
Illustrator: Joanna Cooke
Published 2023
Language(s): English
Rosy Dawn
Author: Kathleen Molaro
Illustrator: Joanna Cooke
Published 2022
ISBN: 979-8-76557-731-8
Language(s): English
Draw, Paint, Tell
Author: Caren Sacks
Illustrator: Joanna Cooke
Publisher: Mascot Books, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-63755-184-4
Language(s): English
Taka Wants to Fly
Author: Irene Berman
Illustrator: Joanna Cooke
Publisher: Penguin Random House; 2020
ISBN: 978-1-43231-068-4
Language(s): English
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Raina’s (Un) Happy Birthday
Author: Britta Stromeyer Esmail
Illustrator: Joanna Cooke
Publisher: Balboa Press; 2018
ISBN: 978-1-9822-0367-2
Language(s): English
Reviews:
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Arabella Discovers a Magical World
Author: Kate Mayo
Illustrator: Joanna Cooke
Publisher: 2019
Language(s): English