Spencer and Vincent, The Jellyfish Brothers

Spencer and Vincent, The Jellyfish Brothers
Written by Tony Johnston
Illustrated by Emily Dove
Simon and Schuster, 2019. Picture Book.

Spencer and Vincent are best friends, who just happen to be brothers. They like to swim around, drifting on the current, singing a fun song with each other. Unfortunately, one day they get separated, and in an effort to find each other again, they must enlist the help of all the other creatures in the sea. Peril and danger ensue, but the brothers use their love for each other to solve the problem.

The undersea pictures in this book are bright, fun, and swirly like the waves they’re inspired by, and the different animals are unique and exciting to look at. The turquoise of the water and the coral and pink of the brothers makes for a sweet color contrast that elevates the mood of the story into something that is carefree, like a tropical island or a bright coral reef, without distracting from its heartfelt message. The journey the brothers go on is a scary one, but their unfailing optimism keeps the book lighthearted. Spencer and Vincent are jellyfish who don’t give up on each other.

Comments

If You Like...KPop Demon Hunters

KPop Demon Hunters has been one of the most talked-about movies of the summer. If you loved this movie as much as I did, you don't want the magic (or the music) to stop. Try reading these books that touch on some of the same topics and themes as the animated hit! Brick Dust and Bones By M. R. Fournet New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2023. Fiction. 247 pages. Orphaned Marius works in the family business--as their cemetery's ghost caretaker. However, Marius also moonlights as a monster hunter in order to earn the costly Mystic currency he needs to bring his mother back from the dead. As the window to bring his mother back begins to close, Marius's exploits get more and more dangerous, and he may have set his sights on a monster too big to handle on his own. Like Mira, Marius longs for familial connection, and his work as a monster hunter will satisfy the thrill of demon hunting for fans the movie. Where's Halmoni? By Julie J. Kim Seattle, WA: Little Bigfoot, 2017. Comics. W...

If You Like... Folktales

Folktales have long carried the wisdom, imagination, and traditions of cultures around the world by passing stories from one generation to the next. They often weave together important life lessons with magical creatures or daring adventures. Books, like the ones on this list, bring these age-old tales to life for today’s readers. Each story is rooted in its own cultural heritage and offers a glimpse into the values of the people who first told them. They remind us that storytelling is a powerful way to connect us across time and place. The Three-Year Tumble By Dayeon Auh New York: NorthSouth Books, 2025. Picture Book. Based on a beloved Korean folktale, a superstitious grandfather and his thoughtful granddaughter turn the legend of Misfortune Mountain on its head. According to the myth, anyone who falls down the mountain has only 3 years left to live! Together, this family learns how changing your mindset can make a positive impact on your life. The Salt Princess By Anoosha Syed New Y...

Five Faves: Comics about Indigenous Peoples

I love comics and graphic novels! This format has such a cool ability to draw in an audience by being able to show emotion on character's faces, give extra details to non-fiction stories, and add in extra vocabulary while showing what the word means. These qualities of comics are really helpful in telling stories about people from diverse cultures. These five comics all tell stories about people from different indigenous nations and how their culture affects how they live. The Ribbon Skirt By Cameron Mukwa New York: Graphix, an Imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2024. Comic. 175 pages. Anang, an Ojibwe tween wants to make a ribbon skirt—a traditional Anishinaabe clothing piece worn by women—to wear to an upcoming powwow, but Anang is worried about what the kids from school will think of them. Anang's classmates see them as a boy, when they are two-spirit and don't identify as a boy or a girl. They ask their grandparents for advice, who advise them to ask the spirits of animals and...

Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Search This Blog