Scruffy the cat and Mocha the dog are interested and sometimes involved onlookers as Aden, Leah and their parents prepare and then tend their pumpkin patch with an eye toward Halloween festivities. They “help” dig, and then they work to keep the rabbits from eating the plants. But all is not well: There are far too few pumpkins. What’s happened? Surprisingly, it’s Louie the rabbit who clues in the family pets and helps them save Halloween—after making a deal, of course. This early reader does a lot: Readers will encounter cleverly planted homophones and a fair amount of gardening know-how in addition to the engaging characters and a genuinely perplexing mystery. Björkman’s line-and-watercolor cartoons ably assist in the character development and contribute to the book’s lighthearted feel. Here’s hoping for more of Scruffy and Mocha. (Early reader. 6-9)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2219-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: June 14, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2010
In a snowbound Swiss village, Matti figures it’s a good day to make a gingerbread man. He and his mother mix a batch of gingerbread and tuck it in the oven, but Matti is too impatient to wait ten minutes without peeking. When he opens the door, out pops a gingerbread baby, taunting the familiar refrain, “Catch me if you can.” The brash imp races all over the village, teasing animals and tweaking the noses of the citizenry, until there is a fair crowd on his heels intent on giving him a drubbing. Always he remains just out of reach as he races over the winterscape, beautifully rendered with elegant countryside and architectural details by Brett. All the while, Matti is busy back home, building a gingerbread house to entice the nervy cookie to safe harbor. It works, too, and Matti is able to spirit the gingerbread baby away from the mob. The mischief-maker may be a brat, but the gingerbread cookie is also the agent of good cheer, and Brett allows that spirit to run free on these pages. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-399-23444-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Miranda’s book counts the monsters gathering at a birthday party, while a simple rhyming text keeps the tally and surveys the action: “Seven starved monsters are licking the dishes./Eight blow out candles and make birthday wishes.” The counting proceeds to ten, then by tens to fifty, then gradually returns to one, which makes the monster’s mother, a purple pin-headed octopus, very happy. The book is surprisingly effective due to Powell’s artwork; the color has texture and density, as if it were poured onto the page, but the real attention-getter is the singularity of every monster attendee. They are highly individual and, therefore, eminently countable. As the numbers start crawling upward, it is both fun and a challenge to try to recognize monsters who have appeared in previous pages, or to attempt to stay focused when counting the swirling or bunched creatures. The story has glints of humor, and in combination with the illustrations is a grand addition to the counting shelf. (Picture book. 3-8)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-201835-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999
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