Humorously imparts an important lesson about candor and discretion.
Cat takes being honest to extremes.
Cat’s blunt comments result in hurt feelings and confusion among his animal friends. He deems a friend’s bathing suit “ridiculous,” leaves a baseball game because he’s bored, and even mocks the gift another pal presents to him. Cat also says that a baby bunny “stinks like POOP!” and rudely refuses sprinkles on his ice cream. When Cat realizes that his friends think that he’s mean, a bluebird offers to help him learn some better manners. It’s hard, but with a little effort, Cat manages to find something positive to say about the bird’s nest. Later, he puts into practice what he’s learned—thinking before speaking. It’s not that he’s being dishonest with his friends. Instead, Cat realizes that he doesn’t need to say everything he is thinking and that some things should be kept to himself. The text flows smoothly, and the artwork effectively depicts the characters’ emotions in various circumstances. An especially winsome image depicts Cat’s almost baffled expression, paws pressed against his mouth, as he realizes how his thoughtless remarks are being perceived and struggles to find something unoffensive to say about Bird’s nest.
Humorously imparts an important lesson about candor and discretion. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: March 7, 2024
ISBN: 9780807517031
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
Accessible, reassuring and hopeful.
This endearing picture book about a timid boy who longs to belong has an agenda but delivers its message with great sensitivity.
Brian wants to join in but is overlooked, even ostracized, by his classmates. Readers first see him alone on the front endpapers, drawing in chalk on the ground. The school scenarios are uncomfortably familiar: High-maintenance children get the teacher’s attention; team captains choose kickball players by popularity and athletic ability; chatter about birthday parties indicates they are not inclusive events. Tender illustrations rendered in glowing hues capture Brian’s isolation deftly; compared to the others and his surroundings, he appears in black and white. What saves Brian is his creativity. As he draws, Brian imagines amazing stories, including a poignant one about a superhero with the power to make friends. When a new boy takes some ribbing, it is Brian who leaves an illustrated note to make him feel better. The boy does not forget this gesture. It only takes one person noticing Brian for the others to see his talents have value; that he has something to contribute. Brian’s colors pop. In the closing endpapers, Brian’s classmates are spread around him on the ground, “wearing” his chalk-drawn wings and capes. Use this to start a discussion: The author includes suggested questions and recommended reading lists for adults and children.
Accessible, reassuring and hopeful. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-582-46450-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Aug. 20, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2013
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.
The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.
Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780063329560
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
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